摘要 |
The present invention relates to method for producing phenol comprising:
a) oxidizing cumene to form an oxidation product containing cumene hydroperoxide;
b) cleaving said oxidation product using an acidic catalyst to form a cleavage product containing phenol, acetone and impurities;
c) neutralizing and washing said cleavage product with a basic aqueous medium to obtain a neutralized cleavage product;
d) separating said neutralized cleavage product by at least one distillation step into at least a phenol containing fraction and an aqueous fraction comprising hydroxyacetone;
e) treating said aqueous fraction with an oxidizing agent in presence of a base to obtain a basic aqueous medium reduced in hydroxyacetone;
f) recycling at least a portion of said basic aqueous medium to the neutralizing and washing step c); and
g) recovering phenol from said phenol containing fraction obtained in step d). |