Abb Lummus Global Inc.

Lummus Technology Inc.

Amit Kelkar

Sanjeev Ram

James M Hildreth

Ajay Gami

A method is provided herein for the extraction of phenol from a waste water stream. The method is used in conjunction with a process for producing acetone and phenol from cumene. The method for extracting phenol from waste water includes contacting in a countercurrent mode a phenol-containing waste water stream with a hydrocarbon stream derived from a bottoms stream from the acetone finishing column to produce a dephenolated waste water stream and a phenol-containing hydrocarbon stream. The phenol-containing hydrocarbon stream is preferably washed with an aqueous caustic solution to provide a hydrocarbon stream, which is then conveyed to the alpha-methylstyrene recovery system. Preferably the hydrocarbon stream derived from the bottoms stream of the acetone finishing column is water washed prior to contacting the phenol-containing waste water stream.

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Bloomfield, NJ, United States of America

Amit Kelkar