GASEOUS-PHASE DEALKYLATION OF PHENOLS BY HETEROGENEOUS CATALYSIS

A new process of gaseous-phase dealkylation. of alkylphenols by hetero geneous catalysis (NiSO4/Al2O3) through a tubular reactor is described . The process is studied with an experimental design using the de-tert -butylation reaction of 4-tert-butyl-2,6-dimethylphenol as a model, an d me show that the process does not noticeably depend on the variation . of the experimental conditions. Under optimum conditions, the conver sion is 98% and the selectivity 100%. The same process is applied to v arious alkylphenols to give high conversion and selectivity (generally higher than 95%).