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US 7,002,048 B2Granted
Method for removal of acetol from phenol
AssigneeSunoco, Inc. (R&M)
InventorsTilak P. Wijesekera, Manoj V. Bhinde
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Abstract
A method is provided for the efficient, low cost removal of acetol from a phenol stream. The method results in removal of substantially all of the acetol from the phenol stream without the formation of substantial amounts of additional methylbenzofuran. The method also avoids the use of expensive reagents and capital intensive distillation equipment.
Claims9
A process for removing acetol from a phenol stream, said method comprising:
- providing a first phenol stream containing acetol and methylbenzofuran, and having a water content of 1.5 weight percent or less based on phenol,
- heating said phenol stream at a temperature of greater than about 175° C. to convert acetol into higher boiling compounds other than methylbenzofuran, such that the acetol is converted primarily to compounds other than methylbenzofuran,
- distilling said phenol stream to separate a second phenol stream containing said methylbenzofuran from said higher boiling compounds, and
- treating said second phenol stream with an acidic resin at elevated temperature to convert methylbenzofuran to products boiling higher than phenol.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.