Recovery of BPA and phenol from aqueous effluent streams

A continuous process for simultaneously extracting BPA and phenol from the aqueous effluent streams produced in the aqueous purification of BPA comprising:

• introducing an aqueous effluent stream containing BPA and phenol to an extraction vessel along with MIBK, removing the heavy aqueous phase from said extraction vessel for further processing or disposal, removing from the top of said extraction vessel an MIBK solution of BPA and phenol, recovering the BPA and phenol solution from said MIBK solution of BPA and phenol and recycling the MIBK to said extraction vessel and, separating the BPA and phenol for recovery or recycling.