Two-Stage Cleavage of Cumene Hydroperoxide

摘要

This invention is an improved two-stage method for producing phenol and acetone from cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) comprising decomposing cumene hydroperoxide in a first stage, and subjecting the product of the first stage to hydrogenation in a second stage; residual cumene hydroperoxide may be decomposed in the second stage, with or without recycling of acetone and/or part of the effluent of the second stage back to the first stage; cumene is also desirably recycled.