Claims
- 1. A process for reducing the level of salt resulting from neutralization of catalyst acid in a phenol tar from a phenol-from-cumene process, which comprises; admixing in a multi-stage counter current flow extractor the phenol tar, which comprises salt, at a temperature of from about 10.degree. C. to about 90.degree. C. with an extraction liquid consisting essentially of water, in a tar to extraction liquid feed ratio of at least 0.3/1, wherein the tar and extraction liquid do not form a stable emulsion and the level of salt is reduced by at least 20 percent by weight.
- 2. The process of claim 1 wherein the extractor has baffles which act as a static mixer to increase the intensity of admixture of the counter current flow.
- 3. The process of claim 1 wherein the extractor contains agitation means additionally to counter current flow.
- 4. The process of claim 3 wherein the agitation means is a rotating anchor stirred.
- 5. The process of claim 3 wherein the agitation means is rotating paddles.
- 6. The process of claim 3 wherein the agitation means is reciprocating trays.
- 7. The process of claim 3 wherein the agitation means is a pulsing column extractor.
- 8. The process of claim 1 wherein the residence time of the tar in the extractor is at least ten minutes.
- 9. The process of claim 7 wherein the extractor provides at least one theoretical equilibrium stage of phase contact.
- 10. The process of claim 1 wherein the water is recirculated to the extractor at least once.
- 11. The process of claim 1 wherein the water is not recirculated to the extractor.
- 12. The process of claim 1 wherein the extractor is a multi-stage pulsing column extractor.
- 13. The process of claim 12 wherein the phenol tar containing salt and the water oscillates at an amplitude is at least 3 millimeters and at a frequency of at least 0.5 Herz.
- 14. The process of claim 1 wherein the extractor is a packed column.
Parent Case Info
This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/531,352 filed on Sep. 20, 1995.
US Referenced Citations (16)
Foreign Referenced Citations (3)
Number |
Date |
Country |
0 032 255 A1 |
Dec 1979 |
EPX |
9 028 910 A1 |
Nov 1980 |
EPX |
5 7080-332 |
Nov 1980 |
JPX |
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 1988, 27, 4-7 "Side Reactions in the Phenol/Acetone Process. A. Kinetic Study",. |
Continuations (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
531352 |
Sep 1995 |
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