Process for the oxidation of benzene to phenol
AssigneeShell Oil Company
InventorsKuo-Hua Chao, Raymond T. Moy
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Abstract
The instant invention relates to a process for the oxidation of benzene to phenol which comprises contacting benzene and molecular oxygen with a dihydrodihydroxyanthracene-sulfonate salt dissolved in water, optionally in the presence of an oxidation catalyst, and subsequently separating from the reaction product phenol and the corresponding anthraquinone-sulfonate. The by-product anthraquinone is suitably recycled to the benzene oxidation step by hydrogenating the anthraquinone salt to the dihydrodihydroxyanthracene salt.
Claims11
A process for the oxidation of benzene to phenol which comprises contacting at a temperature ranging from about 0.degree. C. to about 100.degree. C. benzene and molecular oxygen with an alkali metal salt of dihydrodihydroxyanthracene-sulfonate having at least one sulfonate moiety on the 2, 3, 6 or 7 locant position(s) and which salt is dissolved in water, and subsequently separating from the reaction product phenol and the corresponding alkali metal salt of anthraquinonesulfonate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.