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Abstract

Disclosed is a method for preparing isophthalic acid from metaxylene and especially for purifying crude isophthalic acid (IPA) produced in the course of such method, or otherwise, from a liquid dispersion thereof also containing impurities selected from unreacted starting materials, solvents, products of side reactions and/or other undesired materials. The purifying portion of the method comprises the step of: (1) filtering the dispersion to form a crude IPA filter cake; (2) dissolving the filter cake in a selective crystallization solvent at an elevated temperature to form a solution; (3) crystallizing purified IPA from the solution in the crystallization solvent by reducing the temperature, or pressure, or both of the solution; (4) separating the crystallized purified IPA from the solution; and (5) re-dissolving or soaking the washed purified IPA cake at elevated temperature, to remove the final traces of the crystallization solvent and obtain the desirable particle sizes and shape. Preferably, the selective crystallization solvent is N-methyl pyrrolidone.

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First Claim