Acetone → Phenol

Participants

Reaction Steps

One of the more specific embodiments of this invention concerns a process for the direct neutralization of a reaction mixture resulting from the sulfuric acid cleavage of cumene hydroperoxide which comprises the steps of (a) contacting the cleavage reaction mixture with sodium phenate and forming a neutralized reaction mixture comprising phenol, acetone, cumene and a sodium sulfate salt of neutralization; (b) charging the sodium sulfate-containing reaction mixture to the mixing stage of a first mixer-settler means and admixing the same therein at a temperature of from about 95° to about 120° F. and at a pH of from about 2 to about 4 with a sodium sulfate-containing aqueous phase charged to mixing stage in accordance with step (g); (c) separating an organic phase and an aqueous phase in the settling stage of said first mixer-settler means at said conditions of temperature and pH; (d) charging the organic phase from the settling stage of said first mixer-settler means to the mixing stage of a second mixer-settler means and effecting a progressive decrease in the sodium sulfate concentration of said organic phase at a temperature of from about 95° to about 120° F. and at a pH of from about 2 to about 4 in contact with an aqueous phase charged to said mixing stage in accordance with step (e); (e) charging a substantially salt-free water stream to the mixing stage of said second mixer-settler means and admixing the same therein with the organic phase charged to said mixing stage in accordance with step (d); (f) separating an organic phase and an aqueous phase in the settling stage of said second mixer-settler means at said conditions of temperature and pH; (g) charging said aqueous phase from the settling stage of said second mixer-settler means to the mixing stage of said first mixer-settler means and effecting a progressive increase in the salt concentration of said aqueous phase in contact with said cleavage reaction mixture charged to said mixing stage in accordance with step (b); (h) discharging the resulting sodium sulfate-containing aqueous phase from the settling stage of said first mixer-settler means substantially free of said organic phase; and (i) recovering an organic phase comprising phenol, acetone and cumene from the settling stage of said second mixer-settler means substantially free of sodium sulfate.

Provenance & Evidence