A method is provided herein for the extraction of phenol from a waste waterstream. The method is used in conjunction with a process for producing acetoneand phenol from cumene. The method for extracting phenol from waste waterincludes contacting in a countercurrent mode a phenol-containing waste waterstream with a hydrocarbon stream derived from a bottoms stream from theacetone finishing column to produce a dephenolated waste water stream and aphenol-containing hydrocarbon stream. The phenol-containing hydrocarbon streamis preferably washed with an aqueous caustic solution to provide a hydrocarbonstream, which is then conveyed to the alpha-methylstyrene recovery system.Preferably the hydrocarbon stream derived from the bottoms stream of theacetone finishing column is water washed prior to contacting .the phenol-containing waste water stream.
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