PROCESS FOR REMOVAL OF HYDROXYACETONE FORM PHENOL

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).