Phenol production using reactive distillation.

摘要

A process for producing phenol and acetone from cumene hydroperoxide, comprising: i) introducing a feed of cumene hydroperoxide into a reactive distillation column comprising at its top a distillation column and at its bottom a catalytic bed , at a point above or at an upper part of said catalytic bed; ii) mixing a dilution part of acetone with said cumene hydroperoxide to provide a dilute cumene hydroperoxide; iii) directing said cumene hydroperoxide diluted by said catalyst bed at a temperature of 20 to 150 ° C and a pressure of 69 to 6,895 kPaG (-10 to 1,000 psig) to effect exothermic decomposition of said cumene hydroperoxide into a product comprising a heavy fraction comprising phenol and a light vaporized fraction comprising acetone, the flow of cumene hydroperoxide diluted by the reactor being maintained at a rate sufficient to keep the catalyst bed moist, thereby maintaining the catalyst temperature at or near the point boiling liquid; iv) removing said heavy fraction as tails from said column; v) flowing said light fraction vaporized upwards through the catalytic bed and at least a part of the reactive distillation column; vi) condensing said light fraction to provide at least a portion of said acetone dilution portion for further mixing with said cumene hydroperoxide feed; vii) optionally remove a portion of said light fraction as head distillate from said column and viii) repeat steps i) to vii).