PHENOL PREPARATION PROCESS AND PROPYLENE RECOVERY THEREFROM

Phenol is produced in a recycle manner by (a) reacting benzene with propylene to synthesize cumene, (b) oxidizing the cumene of step (a) into cumene hydroperoxide, (c) acid cleaving cumene hydroperoxide into phenol and acetone, (d) hydrogenating the acetone of step (c) into isopropanol, (e) dehydrating the isopropanol of step (d) into propylene, and (f) recycling the propylene of step (e) to step (a). It is also possible to take propylene from step (e). The acetone by product produced upon preparation of phenol is converted into propylene which is useful by itself for any other uses or recycled to the phenol producing process.