Process for the synthesis of isophorone in the liquid phase with recycling of the alkaline catalyst by electrodialysis

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for the liquid-phase synthesis of isophorone by alkaline self-condensation of acetone, comprising the following successive steps: a) condensation reaction of acetone within a reactor in an alkaline medium, followed by b) distillation, optionally reactive distillation, of the reaction mixture obtained from the reactor, followed by c) separation of the stream recovered at the bottom of the distillation column, optionally reactive distillation column, of step b) so as to separate the alkaline aqueous phase from the organic phase, followed by d) extraction and/or purification of the organic phase to recover isophorone, characterized in that the method comprises the following successive steps: e) electrodialysis treatment of the alkaline aqueous phase recovered at the end of step c) f) recycling to the reactor in step a) of the aqueous phase obtained from the electrodialysis which has an alkali metal hydroxide content greater than the alkali metal hydroxide content of the aqueous phase recovered at the end of step c).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.