Process for the manufacture of p-alkylphenols

US4236033A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Chemische Werke Huels Aktiengesellschaft · US

Inventors

• Helmut Alfs · Marl, DE
• George L. Boehm · Peoria, US
• Heinz Steiner · Bubendorf, CH

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 4, 1978
• Grant date: Nov 25, 1980
• Expiry date: Oct 4, 1998

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02P20/582
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

In a process for the manufacture of a p-alkylphenol by alkylating phenol with an olefin of 3 to 4 carbon atoms, at an elevated temperature, in the liquid phase, in two reaction zones in series and in the presence of a strongly acidic ion exchange resin as the catalyst, an improvement comprises: PA0 (a) passing in a first reaction stage at a temperature of 80.degree.-140.degree. C. over a suspended catalyst, the olefin as a gas at a gas velocity of 30 to 20 cm/second, based on the free cross-section of the empty reactor and on a molar volume of 25 liters per mole of olefin, from below into the reaction mixture; and PA0 (b) passing the resulting liquid reaction product, into a second reaction stage, at a temperature of 80.degree.-140.degree. C. over a fixed-bed catalyst; wherein a catalyst having an exchange capacity of 70-120 m. equivalents/100 cm.sup.3 is used in both reaction stages.