Microchannel process for phenol production via the cleavage of cumene hydroperoxide

• Published in: Chemical engineering science 2019-05, Vol.199, p.398-404
• Main Authors: Dai, Xuan, Zhou, Weiyou, Yang, Song, Sun, Fu'an, Qian, Junfeng, He, Mingyang, Chen, Qun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cumene hydroperoxide; Decomposition; Microchannel reactor; Phenol
• ISSN: 0009-2509; 1873-4405
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ces.2019.01.031

[Display omitted] •Microchannel reactor has been introduced into the CHP decomposition.•The present process affords almost quantitative yield of phenol.•Reduced acid amount and shortened time are required in comparison with kettle reactor.•The microchannel process could also provide higher security of CHP cleavage.•The possible reaction pathway for the CHP cleavage has been proposed. Phenol is commercially produced through cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) cleavage in kettle reactor, having the disadvantages of hazard potential, low selectivity, low efficiency and complicated process. In the study, microchannel reactor has been introduced into the decomposition using sulfuric acid as the catalyst. The influences of various reaction conditions, including temperature, the ratio of sulfuric acid/CHP and residence time, on the reaction have been studied. Compared with kettle reactor, the present process can afford almost quantitative yield of phenol with reduced acid amount and shortened reaction time under higher reaction temperature. The microchannel process can also provide higher security of CHP cleavage. The microtechnology probably gives an alternative protocol for the production of phenol through CHP decomposition. In addition, the possible main reaction pathways for the CHP cleavage in microchannel reactor have been discussed according to the obtained results.