Process for the production of cyclohexanone from phenol

An industrial scale continuous chemical plant for the production and recovery of cyclohexanone from phenol and hydrogen, said plant comprising:

• I) a phenol hydrogenation reaction section [I] comprising a phenol hydrogenation reactor in which phenol is hydrogenated with gaseous hydrogen, in the presence of a catalyst comprising at least one of platinum and palladium metal, whereby reaction heat is produced and from which a hydrogenated product stream is discharged;
• II) a separation and purification section [II] in which cyclohexanone is separated from said hydrogenated product stream by multiple-steps comprising:
• i. a first distillation section, in which components with a boiling point lower than cyclohexanone are removed;
• ii. a second distillation section, in which cyclohexanone is removed;
• iii. a third distillation section, in which a cyclohexanol rich phase is removed;
• and
• iv. a fourth distillation section, in which a mixture comprising phenol and cyclohexanol is removed;
• wherein said cyclohexanone has a cyclohexanol content below 5000 ppm (weight/weight);
• wherein at least some of the reaction heat produced in the phenol hydrogenation reaction section [I] is applied for the production of steam;
• and
• wherein the mixture comprising phenol and cyclohexanol that is removed in step iv) is charged to the phenol hydrogenation reaction section [I];
• characterized in that conditions a) and b) apply:
• a. the molar ratio of cyclohexanone to phenol that is charged to said phenol hydrogenation reactor is from 0.02 to 0.10;
• and
• b. the molar ratio of cyclohexanol to phenol that is charged to said phenol hydrogenation reactor is of from 0.001 to 0.10.