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:
Aug. 13, 2013
Filed:
Dec. 16, 2008
Godefridus Maria J. Van Dortmont, Grevenbicht, NL;
Marleen Horsels, Munstergeleen, NL;
Rudy Francois Maria Jozef Parton, Winkelse, BE;
Johan Thomas Tinge, Sittard, NL;
Godefridus Maria J. Van Dortmont, Grevenbicht, NL;
Marleen Horsels, Munstergeleen, NL;
Rudy Francois Maria Jozef Parton, Winkelse, BE;
Johan Thomas Tinge, Sittard, NL;
DSM IP Assets B.V., Heerlen, NL;
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method for continuously preparing cyclohexanone from phenol making use of a catalyst comprising at least one catalytically active metal selected from platinum and palladium comprising hydrogenating phenol to form a product stream comprising cyclohexanone and unreacted phenol; separating at least part of the product stream, or at least part of the product stream from which one or more components having a lower boiling point than cyclohexanone have been removed, into a first fraction comprising cyclohexanone and a second fraction comprising phenol and cyclohexanol, using distillation; separating the second fraction into a third fraction, rich in cyclohexanol, and a fourth fraction, rich in phenol, using distillation; —subjecting at least part of the fourth fraction to a further distillation step, thereby forming a fifth fraction and a sixth fraction, wherein the fifth fraction is enriched in phenol compared to the sixth fraction, and wherein the sixth fraction comprises side-products having a higher boiling point than phenol, and phenol; and which method is characterized in the additional step of continuously or intermittently separating at least part of the sixth fraction to yet a further distillation step, thereby forming a seventh fraction and an eight fraction, wherein the seventh fraction is enriched in phenol compared to the eight fraction, and wherein the eight fraction comprises side-products having a higher boiling point than phenol.