Process for preparing phenols

US6630608B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• INEOS Phenol GmbH & Co., KG · DE

Inventors

• Uwe Tanger · Bochum, DE
• Reinhard Sigg · Marl, DE
• Siegmund Greschek · Gladbeck, DE
• Manfred Weber · Greensboro, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 4, 2002
• Grant date: Oct 7, 2003
• Expiry date: Apr 9, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C07C37/08
• WIPO field: Organic fine chemistry
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for preparing phenols, in which the pH of the reaction product from the acid-catalyzed cleavage of alkylaryl hydroperoxides is set to a value of at least 8 at a temperature of at least 100° C. prior to the work-up of the product. This measure enables the content of undesirable by-products, e.g. hydroxyacetone, in the cleavage product to be significantly reduced. This procedure is particularly advantageously integrated into a process for preparing phenols by:a) acid-catalyzed cleavage of alkylaryl hydroperoxides andb) thermal after-treatment of the cleavage product from step a), with the temperature in step b) being higher than in step a) and is at least 100° C.,wherein the adjustment to a pH of at least 8 is carried out after the thermal after-treatment and prior to cooling of the cleavage product.