METHOD FOR PRODUCING PHENOL

摘要

PURPOSE: A method for producing phenol is provided, capable of flexibly adapting to the production of phenol with respect to higher demand of phenol than that of acetone by economically taking a molar amount into account although acetone is produced. CONSTITUTION: Phenol is produced by a Hock decomposition of an aryl hydroperoxide, wherein a mixture comprising cumene and cyclohexylbenzene in the mass ratio of cumene to cyclohexylbenzene of at least 3:1 is oxidized with a molecular oxygen-containing gas and the cumene hydroperoxide and cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide produced by the oxidation are decomposed into phenol, acetone and cyclohexane. Preferably the oxidation is carried out at a temperature of 100-140 deg.C. The decomposition is carried out by using an acid catalyst, preferably using sulfuric acid.