BigPatents India

A process for the preparation of mixture of alkylphenols This is an invention which relates to a process for the preparation of a mixture of alkylphenols. In the said process mixture of 2,6-dimethyIphenol (2,6-xylenol) and o-methylphenol (o-cresol) is prepared using a mixed oxide catalyst. The process steps are: contacting a mixed oxide catalyst with a feed consisting of mixture of alkylating agent and a phenolic compound such as herein described at a weight hourly space velocity in the range of 1 to 5 at a temperature ranging between 250 to 400°C, at a pressure in the range of 14.7 to 150 psi, for a period ranging between 1 to 100 hrs and collecting the mixture of alkyl phenols products at a temperature ranging between -5 to +5°C by conventional methods.