Process for Producing Phenol
AssigneeExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc.
InventorsBryan A. Patel, Jihad M. Dakka
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In a process for producing phenol, a mixture of cyclohexylbenzene with from 10 to 90 wt % of a solvent is contacted with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst and under conditions effective to oxidize at least a portion of the cyclohexylbenzene to cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide. The catalyst comprises a cyclic imide having an imide group of formula (I): wherein X represents an oxygen atom, a hydroxyl group, or an acyloxy group. At least a portion of the oxygen is dissolved in the mixture and the liquid phase molar ratio of cyclohexylbenzene to oxygen dissolved in the mixture is less than or equal to 20,000:1.
Claims25
A process for producing phenol, the process comprising:
- (a) providing a mixture comprising cyclohexylbenzene and 10 wt % to 90 wt % of a solvent, the wt % based upon the total weight of the mixture;
- and
- (b) contacting the mixture with oxygen in the presence of a catalyst under conditions effective to produce an oxidation effluent comprising cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide and residual solvent, wherein the catalyst comprises a cyclic imide having an imide group of formula (I):
- wherein X represents an oxygen atom, a hydroxyl group, or an acyloxy group, and wherein at least a portion of the oxygen is dissolved in the mixture and the liquid phase molar ratio of cyclohexylbenzene to oxygen dissolved in the mixture is less than or equal to 20,000:1.
A process for producing phenol, the process comprising:
- (a) contacting benzene with hydrogen in the presence of a hydroalkylation catalyst and under conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the benzene to cyclohexylbenzene;
- (b) mixing at least a portion of the cyclohexylbenzene produced in (a) with a solvent to produce a mixture comprising from 10 wt % to 90 wt % of the solvent, the wt % based upon the total weight of the mixture;
- and
- (c) contacting the mixture with an oxygen-containing gas in at least one oxidation zone in the presence of a catalyst and under conditions effective to produce an oxidation effluent comprising cyclohexylbenzene hydroperoxide and residual solvent, wherein the catalyst comprises a cyclic imide having an imide group of formula (I):
- wherein X represents an oxygen atom, a hydroxyl group, or an acyloxy group, and wherein at least a portion of the oxygen-containing gas is dissolved in the mixture and the liquid phase molar ratio of cyclohexylbenzene to oxygen dissolved in the mixture is less than or equal to 20,000:1.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.