Sunoco Inc (r&m)

James G Skipworth

Scott R Keenan

Amber R Harach

James M Delabar

Products from the decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) are recovered by distillation. The majority of the undesirable by-product acetol (hydroxyacetone) is removed from the phenol stream by distillation wherein the majority of the acetol is carried with an overheads stream comprising acetone, cumene and alphamethylstyrene (AMS). Acetol is subsequently separated from acetone by distillation wherein acetone is taken as an overheads stream and acetol remains with a bottoms stream comprising cumene, AMS and phenol. The acetol, along with residual phenol, is extracted from the cumene and AMS by counter-current washing with an aqueous alkali metal hydroxide. The phenol stream is then distilled to separate phenol from cumene, alphamethylstyrene and higher boiling compounds. The phenol, containing only a small amount of acetol, can then be treated to remove methylbenzofuran by treatment with an acidic resin or solid superacid catalyst without formation of significant amounts of additional methylbenzofuran.

Process for recovery of cumene hydroperoxide decomposition products by distillation

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for in-process handling of concentrated cumene hydroperoxide ('CHP') in a process for the production of phenol and acetone by the decomposition of CHP. The method of the present invention makes use of a tube and shell type heat exchanger as a vessel to accumulate a working volume of concentrated CHP from a distillation unit. Concentrated CHP is then fed to a decomposer unit from the accumulated working volume. Use of a tube and shell type heat exchanger improves safety over designs that make use of an unmodified tank or drum.

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Franklin Furnace, OH, United States of America

James G Skipworth