Abstract: A method for the production of phenol and acetone from a cumene hydroperoxide mixture comprises a first stage and a second stage and at least two serially connected reactors, wherein the first stage comprises decomposition of a cumene hydroperoxide mixture in the presence of a catalyst mixture to form a dicumyl peroxide mixture, and the second stage comprises formation of a phenol and acetone mixture from decomposition of the dicumyl peroxide mixture formed in the first stage, wherein, the first stage further comprises: a) forming a catalyst mixture by combining sulfuric acid and phenol in a weight ratio of from 2:1 to 1:1000 in a catalyst formation reactor, b) holding the catalyst mixture in the catalyst formation reactor at a temperature of about 20 to 80° C. for about 1 to 600 minutes; and, c) adding the catalyst mixture to the cumene hydroperoxide mixture to form the phenol and acetone mixture.

Abstract: A method for the production of phenol and acetone from a cumene hydroperoxide mixture comprises: decomposing the cumene hydroperoxide mixture in the presence of a catalyst mixture to form a mixture comprising phenol and acetone, wherein the method further comprises: a) forming the catalyst mixture in a catalyst formation reactor by combining sulfuric acid and phenol in a weight ratio of from 2:1 to 1:1000; b) holding the catalyst mixture in the catalyst formation reactor at a temperature of about 20 to 80° C. for about 1 to 600 minutes; and c) adding the catalyst mixture to the cumene hydroperoxide mixture to form the phenol and acetone mixture. Running the process in this manner reduces the yield of hydroxyacetone and, consequently, improves the quality of the commercial phenol. Moreover, this method reduces consumption of sulfuric acid in comparison with the process in which sulfuric acid is used as catalyst.

Abstract: A method for the production of phenol and acetone from a cumene hydroperoxide mixture comprises a first stage and a second stage and at least two serially connected reactors, wherein the first stage comprises decomposition of a cumene hydroperoxide mixture in the presence of a catalyst mixture to form a dicumyl peroxide mixture, and the second stage comprises formation of a phenol and acetone mixture from decomposition of the dicumyl peroxide mixture formed in the first stage, wherein, the first stage further comprises: a) forming a catalyst mixture by combining sulfuric acid and phenol in a weight ratio of from 2:1 to 1:1000 in a catalyst formation reactor, b) holding the catalyst mixture in the catalyst formation reactor at a temperature of about 20 to 80° C. for about 1 to 600 minutes; and, c) adding the catalyst mixture to the cumene hydroperoxide mixture to form the phenol and acetone mixture.

Abstract: A method for the production of phenol and acetone from a cumene hydroperoxide mixture comprises: decomposing the cumene hydroperoxide mixture in the presence of a catalyst mixture to form a mixture comprising phenol and acetone, wherein the method further comprises: a) forming the catalyst mixture in a catalyst formation reactor by combining sulfuric acid and phenol in a weight ratio of from 2:1 to 1:1000; b) holding the catalyst mixture in the catalyst formation reactor at a temperature of about 20 to 80° C. for about 1 to 600 minutes; and c) adding the catalyst mixture to the cumene hydroperoxide mixture to form the phenol and acetone mixture. Running the process in this manner reduces the yield of hydroxyacetone and, consequently, improves the quality of the commercial phenol. Moreover, this method reduces consumption of sulfuric acid in comparison with the process in which sulfuric acid is used as catalyst.