Removal and neutralisation of acid catalyst from products of cumene hydroperoxide cleavage

The mineral acid catalyst is removed from the products of cumene hydroperoxide cleavage by contact with an aqueous solution of an inorganic salt and an excess of an alkali metal hydroxide or phenate in a first zone. Suitably the aqueous solution contains sodium sulphate and sodium hydroxide or phenate. The aqueous layer is removed and the organic layer contacted in a second zone with an aqueous solution comprising an inorganic salt and sufficient weak acid to decompose any phenate carried over from the first zone. Suitable weak acids are oxalic and citric acids but the preferred acid is carbonic acid formed 'in situ' by passing carbondioxide into the aqueous inorganic salt solution.