Production of para-dialkylbenzene dihydroperoxide

A process for the recovery of a paradialkylbenzene dihydroperoxide selected from the group consisting of para-diisopropylbenzene dihydroperoxide and para-di (sec-butyl) benzene dihydroperoxide from an oxidation reaction product comprising water, dihydroperoxide, monohydroperoxide, dialkylbenzene and other oxidation reaction products, which comprises the following steps:

• a. treating the oxidation reaction product to separate an aqueous phase and an organic phase,
• b. treating the organic phase with a hydrocarbon stream comprising a hydrocarbon in which the dihydroperoxide is insoluble and the monohydroperoxide and dialkylbenzenes are soluble below about 85.degree. F., which forms a minimum working azeotrope with water and which is selected from the class consisting of benzene, toluene and xylene, in a minimum ratio of hydrocarbon to organic phase of about 0.05:1,
• c. cooling the organic phase-hydrocarbon mixture to a temperature below about 85.degree. F. for a time sufficient to allow the dihydroperoxide to crystallize from said organic phase-hydrocarbon mixture,
• d. separating the crude solid dihydroperoxide from said organic phase-hydrocarbon mixture,
• e. washing the crude solid dihydroperoxide with a hydrocarbon stream comprising the same hydrocarbon employed in step b) in a ratio of hydrocarbon to crude solid dihydroperoxide of about 1:1 to about 3:1,
• f. separating the solid dihydroperoxide from the hydrocarbon wash stream of step e) and returning said hydrocarbon to the hydrocarbon stream of step b).