Method for producing phenolic compound

A method for producing an ester-substituted phenol product stream from an ester-substituted diaryl carbonate manufacturing waste stream, the method comprising the steps of:

• (1) obtaining a waste stream from an ester-substituted diaryl carbonate manufacturing facility, the waste stream comprising an ester-substituted diaryl carbonate,
• (2) creating a reaction mixture by combining the waste stream with a solvent selected from the group consisting of methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol, and water, and with a transesterification catalyst,
• (3) maintaining the reaction mixture at a reaction pressure at or below atmospheric pressure and at a reaction temperature for a period of time sufficient to produce ester-substituted phenol by solvolysis of the ester-substituted diaryl carbonate, and
• (4) removing the ester-substituted phenol in an ester-substituted phenol stream,
• wherein the solvent, the reaction temperature, and the reaction time are selected in combination such that less than 1,000 ppm of acid-substituted phenol is present in the ester-substituted phenol stream.