Process for producing phenol from cumene

Details Process for producing phenol from cumene Process for producing phenol from cumene

1994-09-16

1995-07-04

Lone, Werren B.

Organic compounds -- part of the class 532-570 series

Organic compounds

Oxygen containing

568385, 568741, 568754, 568768, 585405, 585435, C07C 3708, C07C 1500

Patent

active

054302005

ABSTRACT:
The present invention provides in a particular embodiment an improvement in the process for producing phenol by the acid-catalyzed cleavage of cumene hydroperoxide (CHP). The reactant stream fed to the cleavage reactor also includes the contaminant by-product dimethyl benzyl alcohol (DMBA) formed during the direct oxidation of cumene to CHP. This contaminant DMBA further reacts in the cleavage reactor to reduce the yield of phenol and produce undesirable and unreclaimable by-products. The improvement provided herein comprises performing the cleavage reaction at a reduced residence time of generally from one-half to five minutes, whereby the formation of .alpha.-methyl styrene from DMBA is promoted and the formation of the undesirable and unreclaimable by-products is reduced; .alpha.-methyl styrene is not only a useful by-product, but can be recycled and hydrogenated to the cumene starting material.

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