Systems for purifying acetone

A system for purifying acetone from a first feed stream comprising acetone, cumene, phenol, alpha methyl styrene, aldehydes, water, and methanol, and a second feed stream rich in acetone and including aldehydes and methanol, the system comprising:

• a first distillation column including a first feed stream inlet to receive the first feed stream, a first distillation column top outlet to output an acetone enriched fluid, and a first distillation column bottom outlet to output a phenol enriched outflow;
• a second distillation column including a second distillation column acetone enriched inlet in fluid communication with the first distillation column top outlet, a caustic inlet to treat contents of the second distillation column with caustic, the caustic inlet being positioned above the second distillation column acetone enriched inlet, an acetone product outlet to output purified acetone, the acetone product outlet being positioned above the caustic inlet, a side-draw outlet positioned below the acetone product outlet, a second distillation column top lights outlet to output a first volatile impurity, the second distillation column top lights outlet being positioned above the acetone product outlet, and a second distillation column bottom outlet to output phenate;
• a third distillation column including a third distillation column inlet in fluid communication with the side-draw outlet, a third distillation column top lights outlet to output a second volatile impurity, and a third distillation column bottom outlet;
• and
• a caustic treatment vessel in fluid communication between the first distillation column top outlet and the caustic inlet, in fluid communication between the second feed stream and the second distillation column, in fluid communication between the side-draw outlet and the third distillation column inlet, or in fluid communication between the third distillation column bottom outlet and the caustic inlet of the second distillation column,
• wherein the first distillation column includes a first distillation column auxiliary inlet in direct fluid communication with the second feed stream, the second distillation column includes a second distillation column auxiliary inlet in fluid communication with the second feed stream, and/or the caustic treatment vessel is in fluid communication between the caustic inlet and the second feed stream.