HIGHLY SELECTIVE METHOD OF PHENOL AND ACETONE PRODUCTION (PROCESS FAN-98) Russian patent published in 1999 - IPC

FIELD: production of phenol and acetone by decomposition of technical cumene hydroperoxide. SUBSTANCE: decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide into phenol and alpha-methylstyrene is carried out in presence of sulfuric acid so that rate of heat liberation and rate of heat removal are balanced in every of three successively installed reactors. Decomposition proceeds practically under isothermic conditions: 47-50 C in the first reactor; 50-48 C in the second reactor, and 48-50 C in the third reactor. Conversion of comene hydroperoxide in reactors is maintained within 45-50, 67-73 and 78-82 %, respectively. Concentration of sulfuric acid at stage of cumene hydroperoxide decomposition is 0.018-0.020 wt.%. Decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide is effected in reaction medium containing equimolar quantity of phenol and acetone, 10-12 wt.% of additionally introduced acetone in terms of technical cumene hydroperoxide. At the second stage of process, decomposition of dicumyl peroxide and dimethylphenylcarboiol is carried out in compartment plug-flow reactor under nonisothermal conditions at controlled temperature rise from 120 to 146 C. Depth of conversion of dicumyl peroxide and dimenthylphenulcarboiol is regulated by simultaneous change of water concentration in products of decomposition, temperature and degree of conversion of sulfuric acid into NH₄HSO₄. Temperature is controlled by thermocouples installed in each reactor section; and obtained temperature profile is compared with temperature profile of kinetic model on the basis of value of ΔT in each section of reactor. Process conditions are corrected by the results of obtained deviations. EFFECT: improved economic characteristics of process and reduced consumption of raw materials. 4 dwg, 2 tbl, 11 ex