Abstract: A method for producing bisphenol includes introducing a phenol and a ketone into a fixed, supported catalytic bed reactor system in a downflow mode, reacting the phenol and the ketone to form a reaction mixture, and recovering the bisphenol isomer from the reaction mixture. The preferred bisphenol isomer is bisphenol A, or p,p?-bisphenol A, produced from the reaction of phenol and acetone. The reactor for producing the bisphenol A from the reaction of phenol and acetone includes an ion exchange resin catalyst disposed in a bed and packing randomly distributed throughout the ion exchange resin catalyst to improve heat transfer efficiency and reduce compression of the catalyst bed.

Abstract: A method for producing bisphenol includes introducing a phenol and a ketone into a fixed, supported catalytic bed reactor system in a downflow mode, reacting the phenol and the ketone to form a reaction mixture, and recovering the bisphenol isomer from the reaction mixture. The preferred bisphenol isomer is bisphenol A, or p,p′-bisphenol A, produced from the reaction of phenol and acetone. The reactor for producing the bisphenol A from the reaction of phenol and acetone includes an ion exchange resin catalyst disposed in a bed and packing randomly distributed throughout the ion exchange resin catalyst to improve heat transfer efficiency and reduce compression of the catalyst bed.

Abstract: A method for producing bisphenol includes introducing a phenol and a ketone into a fixed, supported catalytic bed reactor system in a downflow mode, reacting the phenol and the ketone to form a reaction mixture, and recovering the bisphenol isomer from the reaction mixture. The preferred bisphenol isomer is bisphenol A, or p,p′-bisphenol A, produced from the reaction of phenol and acetone. The reactor for producing the bisphenol A from the reaction of phenol and acetone includes an ion exchange resin catalyst disposed in a bed and packing randomly distributed throughout the ion exchange resin catalyst to improve heat transfer efficiency and reduce compression of the catalyst bed.

Abstract: A method for regenerating deactivated sulfonated cation exchange catalysts comprises washing the deactivated catalyst with phenol-water mixtures comprising about 5-20 wt. % of water in phenol at a temperature of about 70-95° C.

Abstract: A method for producing bisphenol includes introducing a phenol and a ketone into a fixed, supported catalytic bed reactor system in a downflow mode, reacting the phenol and the ketone to form a reaction mixture, and recovering the bisphenol isomer from the reaction mixture. The preferred bisphenol isomer is bisphenol A, or p,p′-bisphenol A, produced from the reaction of phenol and acetone. The reactor for producing the bisphenol A from the reaction of phenol and acetone includes an ion exchange resin catalyst disposed in a bed and packing randomly distributed throughout the ion exchange resin catalyst to improve heat transfer efficiency and reduce compression of the catalyst bed.

Abstract: Low-particulate dihydric aromatic compounds such as bisphenol-A that can be used in the synthesis of low-particulate polycarbonates are prepared by introducing into a desorber column containing a non-aggregate packing material an adduct of bisphenol and phenol and optionally a stripping gas. The column is maintained at an operating temperature that is sufficiently high and an operating pressure that is sufficiently low such that the adduct is distilled. The stream of phenol and the stripping gas is recovered from the top of the column. A second stream containing bisphenol that is substantially free of added particulate matter is recovered from the bottom of the column. This purified stream of bisphenol-A can further be used in a method of producing optical-grade polycarbonate.

Abstract: Low-particulate dihydric aromatic compounds such as bisphenol-A that can be used in the synthesis of low-particulate polycarbonates are prepared by introducing into a desorber column containing a non-aggregate packing material an adduct of bisphenol and phenol and optionally a stripping gas. The column is maintained at an operating temperature that is sufficiently high and an operating pressure that is sufficiently low such that the adduct is distilled. The stream of phenol and the stripping gas is recovered from the top of the column. A second stream containing bisphenol that is substantially free of added particulate matter is recovered from the bottom of the column. This purified stream of bisphenol-A can further be used in a method of producing optical-grade polycarbonate.

Abstract: A method for regenerating deactivated sulfonated cation exchange catalysts comprises washing the deactivated catalyst with phenol-water mixtures comprising about 5-20 wt. % of water in phenol at a temperature of about 70-95° C.

Abstract: An integrated process for the preparation and recovery of a bisphenol based on the condensation reaction of a ketone and a phenol in the presence of an ion-exchange resin.

Abstract: A process is employed for the isolation and crystallization of chroman-I from an impure mixture, by heating the crude mixture, mixing acetone with the hot mixture to obtain a solids-free solution and crystallizing the chroman-I from the solution. Repeated cycles of the process yield high purity chroman-I in good yield.

Abstract: An improved method for the preparation of tris(4-hydroxyphenyl) compounds is provided. In particular, an improved method for preparing 1, 1,1-tris(4'-hydroxyphenyl)ethane is provided which comprises heating a mixture comprising phenol and 4-hydroxy acetophenone in the presence of effective amounts of an ion exchange catalyst and a mercaptan as a copromoter such that the resulting 1,1,1-tris(4'-hydroxyphenyl)ethane is substantially free of various reaction impurities.