Method for the decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide by acidic catalyst to phenol and acetone

摘要

A method for the enhanced decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide by acidic catalyst to phenol and acetone which comprises decomposing cumene hydroperoxide in a non-isothermal manner in the presence of excess acetone whereby the molar ratio of acetone to phenol in a decomposition reactor is from about 1.1:1 to 1.5:1. A method for the selectivity of the decomposition of dicumyl peroxide to alpha methylstyrene also phenol and acetone in the presence of an acidic catalyst which comprises carrying out the decomposition at a temperature of from about 80° to 110° C. A method for carrying out the decomposition of dicumyl peroxide with an acidic catalyst system which comprises performing such decomposition in the presence of the reaction product of (1) an amine with (2) an acidic material which can catalyze the decomposition of CHP. A method for preparing phenol and acetone from the decomposition of CHP with an acidic catalyst which comprises (a) decomposing CHP at a specific acidic catalyst concentration and temperature thereby forming a composition comprising phenol, acetone and dicumyl peroxide, (b) transferring dicumyl peroxide to a plug flow reactor wherein decomposition of dicumyl peroxide to phenol acetone and AMS occurs at a lower acidic catalyst concentration and a higher temperature than the catalyst concentration and temperature in step (a). A method for the decomposition of CHP and producing CHP decomposition products therefrom which comprises recycling the CHP decomposition products to a CHP feedstream in the quantity of from about 10-25 times the weight of the CHP feedstream.