HOCHSELEKTIVES VERFAHREN ZUR HERSTELLUNG VON PHENOL UND ACETON

Disclosed is a process for the cleavage of technical cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) into phenol, acetone and alpha -methylstyrene. In a first stage, the CHP cleavage process is conducted in such a way to maintain the heat generation rate and the heat removal rate balanced in each of the CHP cleavage reactors. The cleavage of the CHP is conducted under substantially isothermal conditions at a temperature in the range of 47-50 DEG C. In the second stage of the process dicumylperoxide (DCP) and dimethylbenzene alcohol (DMBA) cleavage is carried out in a multi-section plug-flow reactor under non-isothermal conditions at a controlled temperature increase. The temperature is controlled with the use of thermocouples installed in each section of the reactor. The obtained temperature profile is compared with the temperature profile required by the kinetic model based on DELTA T in each section of the reactor. Based on any obtained fluctuations at least one of the amount of water additionally fed to the reactor, the temperature and the degree of sulfuric acid conversion into NH4HSO4 are adjusted.