Catalytic purification of phenol

摘要

A method is disclosed to purify crude phenol containing acetol and alpha-methyl styrene prior to hydrogenation to cyclohexanone comprising contacting the crude phenol with a catalyst while heating the crude phenol and catalyst to a temperature between about 140 DEG C. and 190 DEG C. at a pressure between about atmospheric and about 70 psig in an inert atmosphere so that the catalyst causes a reaction between the impurities acetol and alpha-methyl styrene to form cumene and pyruvic aldehyde, then heating the resultant compounds for a period of 0.1 to about 6 hours under an inert gas sweep at a temperature of from about 150 DEG C. to about 190 DEG C. until the pyruvic aldehyde has decomposed and its decomposition products are swept away in the gas sweep.