Abstract:
A method is disclosed for recovering lactams from acidic reaction mixtures, the improvement consisting in the fact that the extractant is an alkylsubstituted phenol the alkyl chain of which contains at least three carbon atoms, the alkyl substituent being capable of imparting to the phenol a lipophilic character. Monosubstituted and disubstituted phenols, such as isopropyl phenols, sec. and tert. butyl phenols, sec. and tert. amylphenols, di-sec. amylphenols and di-tert. amylphenols are preferred.
Abstract:
A method for the preparation of pure lactam is disclosed wherein a primary solution of the lactam in an organic phenolic solvent is supplemented by a compound miscible with the solution which is compatible with the primary solvent and is a solvent for the primary solvent but not for the lactam and susceptible of giving rise to precipitation of the lactam, the lactam being then separated from the mixture of the primary solvent and the compound which is a solvent for said primary solvent.