General Electric Company

Illa International, L.l.c.

Other

Vladimir M Zakoshansky

Andrei K Griaznov

Irina I Vasilieva

Otto Gerlich

Werner Kleinloh

Michael Kleine-Boymann

Christian Michalik

Heinrich Van Barnefeld

Youry Nikolaevitch Youriev

The present invention relates to an improved method for producing phenol and acetone by oxidizing cumene into technical cumol hydroperoxide (CHP) through catalytic cleavage of the CHP. According to the invention, the oxidation products are concentrated to up to a cumene content ranging from 21 to 30 wt % in the technical cumol hydroperoxide, said mixture being used for the catalytic cleavage.

Process for the production of phenol and acetone from cumene

Technical cumylhydroperoxide of a wide composition range is cleaved in circulating reactors of a shell and tube design at the same elevated pressure as dicumyl peroxide is cleaved in a plug flow reactor with a recirculation ratio of at least 26. The cleavage process is controlled using two calorimeters and controlling the absolute .DELTA.T value which is the difference in the temperature drop between the two calorimeters.

Method of technical cumene hydroperoxide acidic cleavage to phenol,

The invention relates to a method for purification of phenol and specifically to a method for purification of phenol produced within the process of joint phenol and acetone production by cumene method. The aim of the invention is to develop a catalyst which has high activity for phenol purification from organic mico-impurities with regeneration of the catalyst and which has high mechanical strength and stability with long catalyst life. This result is obtained by phenol purification using a heterogeneous zeolite catalyst. The acidity of the catalyst measured by butane cracking (K.sub.A) is more than 10. It is preferable to use zeolites which are designated according to the classification of the International Zeolite Association by indices FAU (zeolites X, Y), MFI (for example, ZSM-5), MOR (mordenite), MAZ (omega), BEA (beta), FER (ferrierite) and others. These zeolites can be used with binders (aluminum oxide, silica gel, aluminosilicates or aluminophosphates) and without them. It is preferable to use zeolite of the Y type with an aluminosilicate binder and a the value of K.sub.A =50-80 cm.sup.3 /min*g and Si/Al ratio more than 3. The concentration of sodium, potassium and other alkali agents on the basis of their oxides does not exceed 2 wt %, preferably not more than 0.3 wt %. It is preferable to use zeolites with medium and large pores. Size of zeolites pores should be within the range 4 .ANG. in diameter and more. The most preferable zeolites are with large pores (&gt;6 .ANG. in diameter) such as Y and mordenite.

Method for purification of phenol

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St. Petersburg, Russia

Vladimir M Zakoshansky