METHOD AND CATALYST FOR CUMENE TREATMENT OF PHENOL Russian patent published in 2003 - IPC

FIELD: chemical industry, production of phenol. SUBSTANCE: invention presents the method and catalyst of production of phenol using cumene treatment method. Clearing of phenol produced at decomposition of cumene hydroperoxide and containing impurities poor- separated in the process of its distillation, is exercised by contacting of phenol with zirconium-alumina catalyst consisting of a mix of aluminum and zirconium oxides and sulfated oxides of aluminum and zirconium, at the temperature of 90-200 C and volumetric rate of the raw material feeding 1-3 h^-1 hour. The catalyst contains sulfates in amount of 5-15 % mass (in terms of SO₄)., oxides of 5-30 % (in terms of Al₂O₃). For preparation of the catalyst they use a mix of a boehmite and a pseudo- boehmite (in ratio of 1 : 3 up to 3 : 1 mass %) as aluminum hydroxide. Then settling of zirconium hydroxides and the indicated mix of aluminum hydroxides is conducted, these hydroxides of aluminum and zirconium are admixed, sulfatized with an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid, peptizated also with use of an aqueous solution of sulfuric acid then a screw extrusion of the produced catalyst mass and heat treatment of extrudates is conducted. EFFECT: application of the zirconium-alumina catalyst results in production of high-purity phenol free of impurities present in the phenol raw material. 5 cl, 4 ex, 1 tbl