REMOVAL OF SALTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF PHENOLIC COMPOUND

摘要

There is provided a process for the manufacture of phenolic compounds by oxidising an alkyl-substituted aromatic compound to form the hydroperoxide derivative thereof, followed by cleavage of the hydroperoxide to form an aralkyl (aryl alkyl or alkyl aryl) hydroperoxide cleavage mass and neutralisation of the aralkyl hydroperoxide cleavage mass to form a neutralised aralkyl hydroperoxide cleavage mass stream, comprising: separating a neutralised aralkyl hydroperoxide cleavage mass stream containing salts of neutralisation into a crude ketone stream and a crude phenolic stream containing the salts of neutralisation; separating the crude phenolic stream into a concentrated phenolic-rich stream, enriched in phenolic compounds, and a crude phenolic bottoms stream enriched in tars and alpha methyl styrene dimers, each compared to the crude phenolic stream, said crude phenolic bottoms stream containing salts of neutralisation; adding water and a diluent composition to the crude phenolic bottoms stream, thereby forming a phase separable crude phenolic bottoms stream, said diluent composition comprised of hydrocarbons phase compatible with the crude phenolic bottoms stream and having a combined density lower than the density of the crude phenolic bottoms stream; separating the separable crude phenolic bottoms stream into a hydrocarbon phase and an aqueous phase containing salts of neutralisation; whereby the amount of salts of neutralisation in the hydrocarbon phase is reduced compared to the amount of salts of neutralisation present prior to separation.