Extraction of Phenol in Water Phase Using Liquefied Dimethyl Ether

The applicability of liquefied dimethyl ether (DME) was evaluated as an extractant for phenol, a polar substance, in water. The phenol extraction ratio was 79% from 5.45 wt% phenol solution, and 67% from 0.11 wt% phenol solution using a liquefied DME/water volume ratio of 1.5 : 1. Phenol could be isolated from the DME phase by extraction with a water phase containing an initial phenol concentration of 1.09 wt% or more. Based on these results, a concept of the extraction process was constructed with a pressure swing method for recycling the DME extractant.