An integrated process to produce phenol from coal derived liquid

A process for producing phenol from a coal-derived feed comprising:

• providing an alkylphenol stream comprising alkylphenols having an alkyl chain having two or more carbon atoms;
• dealkylating the alkylphenol stream in a first dealkylation reaction zone comprising a first dealkylation zone under first dealkylation reaction conditions in the presence of a first dealkylation catalyst to produce a first dealkylation effluent stream comprising light hydrocarbons, alkylbenzene, phenol, cresol, and unconverted alkylphenol;
• separating the first dealkylation effluent stream in a dealkylation separation zone into at least a phenol stream comprising the phenol, a bottom stream comprising the unconverted alkylphenol, and at least one of a cresol stream comprising the cresol, a light hydrocarbon stream comprising the light hydrocarbons, and an alkylbenzene stream comprising the alkylbenzene;
• transalkylating the bottom stream and a reactant stream comprising toluene or benzene or both in a first transalkylation reaction zone comprising a first transalkylation reactor under first transalkylation reaction conditions in the presence of a first transalkylation catalyst to produce a first transalkylation effluent stream comprising cresol, phenol, and alkylbenzene;
• introducing the first transalkylation effluent stream into the dealkylation separation zone;
• and
• recovering the phenol stream;
• wherein the coal-derived feed stream comprises a portion of a low temperature coal tar stream, a medium temperature coal tar stream, a high temperature coal tar stream, a cresylic acid stream, or a crude phenolic mixture.