Purification of aqueous effluent streams containing BPA and phenol

A continuous process for purifying aqueous streams containing BPA and phenol comprising:

• introducing said aqueous effluent stream to an extraction vessel along with clean MIBK, removing from the top of said extraction vessel an MIBK solution of BPA and phenol, separating the BPA and phenol from the MIBK solution of BPA and phenol and recycling the MIBK to said extraction vessel, removing the heavy aqueous phase from said extraction vessel and passing said aqueous phase to MIBK removal means where MIBK is separated and returned to said extraction vessel, and recovering from said MIBK removal means an aqueous phase which is substantially free of BPA, phenol, and MIBK.