Cyclohexanone-containing products and processes for making the same

A process for producing cyclohexanone from a first feed mixture comprising cyclohexylbenzene, cyclohexanone, phenol, and 3-cyclohexenone, the process comprising:

• feeding the first feed mixture into a first distillation column at a first feeding location on the first distillation column;
• obtaining a lower cyclohexylbenzene-rich effluent from the first distillation column;
• obtaining a first upper effluent from a first upper effluent location on the first distillation column above the first feeding location, the first upper effluent comprising cyclohexanone, cyclohexanol, and is substantially free of phenol and 3-cyclohexenone;
• obtaining a middle effluent from a middle effluent location on the first distillation column above the first feeding location and below the first upper effluent location, the middle effluent comprising cyclohexanone, phenol, and 3-cyclohexenone;
• feeding at least a portion of the middle effluent to a hydrogenation reactor, where the middle effluent contacts with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst under hydrogenation conditions to produce a hydrogenation reactor effluent substantially free of 3-cylcohexenone;
• feeding at least a portion of the hydrogenation reactor effluent to the first distillation column at a recycle location between the middle effluent location and the first upper effluent location, wherein:
• the recycle location is 6 to 30 stages above the middle effluent location;
• and
• the conversion of phenol in the hydrogenation reactor is no higher than 99%.