Production of phenol from a biomass

Abstract

Process for the production of phenol, said process comprising the steps of: (A) producing ethanol from a biomass, which is advantageously a carbohydrate-containing biomass, then (B) causing the ethanol produced at the step (A) to react with methanol, so as to produce benzyl alcohol and/or benzaldehyde, then (C) causing the benzyl alcohol and/or benzaldehyde produced at the step (B) to react with oxygen, so as to produce benzoic acid, then (D) causing the benzoic acid produced at the step (C) to react with oxygen, so as to produce phenol. Use of no more than 20 parts by weight of a carbohydrate contained in a biomass for the production of one part of phenol.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.