Process for separation of indole using X and Y type zeolites

A process for separating indole from a mixture of indole with at least one compound selected from the group consisting of naphthalene, thionaphthene, 1-methylnaphthalene, 2-methylnaphthalene, biphenyl, 1,5-dimethylnaphthalene, 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, acenaphthene, diphenylene oxide and fluorene which comprises the step of contacting the mixture with an X type zeolite whose exchangeable cation sites are occupied by at least one cation selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, copper, silver, zinc, cadmium, iron, nickel, cobalt and lanthanum ions or a Y type zeolite whose exchangeable cation sites are occupied by at least one cation selected from the group consisting of lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, copper, silver, zinc, cadmium, iron, nickel, cobalt and lanthanum ions to selectively adsorb indole on the zeolite and contacting a desorbent A selected from the group consisting of C.sub.2-10 aliphatic ethers, C.sub.7-10 aromatic ethers, C.sub.2-10 aliphatic esters and C.sub.3-10 aliphatic ketones, with the indole-adsorbed zeolite to separate indole, the selectivity of the zeolite for indole over the desorbent A represented by K indole desorbent A ranging from 0.1 to 10.