Process for producing phenol

US7109385B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Prashant Tatake · Hyderabad, IN
• Pramod Kumbhar · Savanuru, IN
• Bharat Singh · Brooklyn, US
• John W. Fulmer · Greenwood, US
• Sabyasachi Mandal · Bengaluru, IN
• Arun Kumar · Viralimalai, IN
• Rupesh Pawar · Jamkhed, IN

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 29, 2005
• Grant date: Sep 19, 2006
• Expiry date: Apr 29, 2025

Classification

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

Abstract

A process for producing a phenol product generally comprises a first step comprising reacting in a first reactor a feed stream comprising cumene hydroperoxide and water with an acid catalyst to produce an effluent comprising the phenol product, acetone, and at least 1% by weight residual cumene hydroperoxide, and a second step comprising passing the effluent into a second reactor and decomposing the residual cumene hydroperoxide, wherein during said process the ratio of phenol to acetone is maintained at a molar ratio of greater than 1:1, and wherein the water in each of the first and second steps is present in an amount more than 0 and less than or equal to 5 weight percent based on the total weight of the feed stream or effluent, and wherein the process is continuous.