METHOD FOR PURIFYING CRUDE ACETOPHENONE

PURPOSE:To obtain acetophenone in high yield, by treating a crude acetophenone obtained from a process for preparing phenol by the cumene method with an aqueous solution of an alkali, separating an aqueous layer, and distilling the layer containing the aimed acetophenone at a specific pH. CONSTITUTION:Cumene hydroperoxide is decomposed to give crude phenol. Phenol is then separated from the crude phenol to afford a residue, and a mixture of crude acetophenone with the phenol obtained from the residue is then treated with an aqueous solution of an alkali, e.g. caustic soda, to transfer the phenol as a phenolate to an aqueous layer side. The resultant aqueous layer is then separated by the conventional method. The resultant layer containing the acetophenone is then distilled at =99% purity and remarkably improved yield.