Assembly for removing hydrophilic contaminants, method of the same, and apparatus for producing phenol

A phenol producing apparatus including a reaction tower for forming cumene by benzene and propylene, an oxidation tower for forming a cumene hydroperoxide by oxidizing the cumene at downstream of the reaction tower, a concentration tower for concentrating the cumene hydroperoxide at downstream of the oxidation tower, a disintegration tower for forming coarse acetone and coarse phenol by disintegrating the concentrated cumene hydroperoxide by the acid material at downstream of the concentration tower and each kinds of distillation tower for separating and refining the coarse phenol and the coarse acetone at downstream of the disintegration tower, which is provided with a hydrophilic contaminants removing assembly, comprising:

• coalescing means provided with a fiber layer in which capillary tubes are formed and having characteristics of alkali resistance and solvent resistance, for coalescing and separating the moisture including the hydrophilic contaminants from the oil-state liquid;
• liquid feeding means for supplying a mixed liquid consisting of the moisture including the hydrophilic contaminants and the oil-state liquid to the said coalescing means;
• water collecting means for collecting the moisture including the hydrophilic contaminants which is coalesced and separated;
• and
• oil collecting means for collecting the oil-state liquid after the moisture including the hydrophilic contaminants is separated and removed therefrom, in at least one portion on the passage between the oxidation tower and the concentration tower, between the disintegration tower and the distillation tower, or on the passage provided for feeding back the excess cumene from the concentration tower to the upstream side of the oxidation tower.

A phenol producing apparatus including a reaction tower for forming cumene by benzene and propylene, an oxidation tower for forming a cumene hydroperoxide by oxidizing the cumene at downstream of the reaction tower, a concentration tower for concentrating the cumene hydroperoxide at downstream of the oxidation tower, a disintegration tower for forming coarse acetone and coarse phenol by disintegrating the concentrated cumene hydroperoxide by the acid material at downstream of the concentration tower and each kinds of distillation tower for separating and refining the coarse phenol and the coarse acetone at downstream of the disintegration tower, which is provided with a hydrophilic contaminants removing assembly comprising:

• a chamber containing the mixed liquid,
• means for supplying the mixed liquid from the chamber to a coalescing means,
• coalescing means for coalescing and separating the moisture from the mixed liquid resulting in the oil-state liquid, the oil-state liquid and the moisture being released from the coalescing means into a separated liquid chamber, the moisture forming a water sedimentation layer at a bottom portion of the separated liquid chamber,
• means cooperating with the bottom portion of the separated liquid chamber for collecting the water sedimentation layer in at least one portion on the passage between the oxidation tower and the concentration tower, between the disintegration tower and the distillation tower, or on the passage provided for feeding back the excess cumene from the concentration tower to the upstream side of the oxidation tower;
• and
• means cooperating with an upper portion of the separated liquid chamber for collecting the oil-state liquid;
• wherein the coalescing means comprises:
• an alkali resistant and solvent resistant fiber layer including capillary tubes,
• a cylindrical shaped porous holding cylinder having end portions connectable and disconnectable from a main body of the removing apparatus, wherein the fiber layer is wound about the outer peripheries of the holding cylinder so as to be held by the cylinder, the fiber layer including a highly densified portion formed at the end portions, and
• end plates attached to both end portions and including an endless ring-shaped thin protrusion protruding toward and cutting into the highly densified portion of the fiber layer.