RECOVERY OF PARA-AMINOPHENOL

An improved method for the recovery of para-amino-phenol from crude solutions thereof such as obtained by the catalytic hydrogenation of nitrobenzene in an aqueous acid reaction medium. The method comprises neutralizing the cold, acidic solution containing the crude para-aminophenol whereby a very fine fluffy para-aminophenol precipitates. When an aromatic amine selected from the group consisting of aniline, mixed toluidenes, ortho-toluidine, mixed xylidines and mixtures thereof is admixed therewith an upper layer containing the para-aminophenol suspended in the aromatic amine forms when allowed to settle. A clear lower layer containing about 70 to 90% of the ammonium sulfate solution is separated and discarded. The upper layer which contains the aromatic amine and the para-aminophenol can be used as a source of paraaminophenol for producing para-aminophenol derivatives such as diaryl para-phenylenediamines.