Abstract: The present invention includes a process for removing aldehydes from acetone having aldehyde impurities comprising contacting the acetone with a sufficient amount of at least one diamine compound to react with at least a portion of the aldehyde and heating the acetone in the presence of the diamine compound sufficiently to result in reaction of the diamine compound and aldehyde, thus reducing the amount of aldehyde in the acetone. It is preferred that the process is an improvement in a process for purifying crude acetone having aldehydes therein, by fractionally distilling the acetone in a multiple plate distillation, the improvement comprising adding to the acetone a sufficient amount of at least one diamine compound to react with at least a portion of the aldehydes.

Abstract: This invention includes an improved process of converting a phenate to a phenol using acid in which a two phase system having an aqueous phase containing phenate and an organic, phenol-containing, phase are present, the improvement comprising adding the acid to enter the aqueous phase while avoiding contact of the acid and phenol phase. Preferably, with sufficient mixing to substantially surround the organic phase with the aqueous phase. The addition is preferably accomplished by mixing the two phases sufficiently to disperse a small organic (phenol) phase in a (bulk) aqueous phase. Such a process conveniently comprises the steps of: (a) mixing a system containing an organic phenol-containing phase and an aqueous phase sufficiently to substantially surround regions of organic phase with aqueous phase; and (b) adding acid to the aqueous phase; and, optionally, (c) maintaining sufficient mixing to prevent contact of concentrated acid with the organic or phenol phase.

Abstract: In one aspect this invention includes a method for recovering phenols from a mixture containing hydrocarbons and/or oxygenated hydrocarbons having a boiling point greater than that of the phenol and at least about 1 part per million by weight of at least one phenol comprising, (a) admixing the mixture with sufficient lower molecular weight hydrocarbon solvent to reduce the surface tension of the mixture and (b) contacting the resulting admixture with an aqueous solution of inorganic base such that at least a portion of the phenols are extracted into the aqueous solution. It is found that when recovering phenol from a waste stream which contains in addition to the phenol, a substituted phenol, for example cumyl phenols, extraction with the aqueous phase produces an emulsion. formation of which is reduced or eliminated by use of the lower molecular weight solvent. Reduced emulsion facilitates the unit operation and results in less phenate salt being lost with the emulsion in the organic phase.