The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 09, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 03, 2000
Gerrit Op Den Dries, Bergen op Zoom, NL;
Martin Jaco Soeters, Burgh-Haamstede, NL;
Marcellinus Adrianus Klaverveld, Oudenbosch, NL;
Eduard Hendricus Schlarmann, Bergen op Zoom, NL;
Guido Theodorus Fridiswidus Maria Van Dooremal, Bergen op Zoom, NL;
General Electric Company, Pittsfield, MA (US);
Abstract
Cleaning of a reactor used in the production of bisphenols is enhanced by heating the reactor wall, for example by the introduction of steam into the shell surrounding the reactor. The steam heats the wall which lies between the shell and the interior reaction chamber, and thus facilitates melting/dissolution of bisphenol:phenol adduct that has formed on the wall on the inside of reaction chamber. The steam is introduced for a period of at least 5 minutes, and preferably for a period of from 5 to 60 minutes. In a variation of this method, a solubility-increasing composition is introduced into the reaction chamber to increase the solubility of the bisphenol during the introduction of steam. Suitable solubility-increasing compositions include hydrochloric acid and/or water, or a mixture of acetone and phenol.