Process for purifying phenol

A process for improving the quality of phenol which comprises (a) introducing a liquid phenol composition comprising above about 95 weight percent phenol on a dry basis, organic acid contaminants, and organic ketone contaminants; (b) introducing water into the distillation tower, together with the phenol stream or in a separate stream; (c) heating the phenol composition and water to a temperature sufficiently high to vaporize the water; (d) allowing the organic acid contaminant to build to a concentration whereby sufficient acid is present to catalyze a reaction between an organic ketone contaminant and phenol, thereby forming a new compound(s) and; (e) removing the said formed compound(s) from the distillation tower by hydroextractive steam distillation. f