Methods for bisphenol A production

• US 4,906,789 A
• Filed: 09/28/1988
• Issued: 03/06/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Instytut Ciezkiej Syntezy Organicznej "Blachownia", Kedzierzyn-Kozle, Poland, Zaklady Chemiczne Blachownia", Kadzierzyn-Kozle, Poland
• Original Assignee: Instytut Ciezkiej Syntezy Organicznej "Blachownia", Zaklady Chemiczne "Blachownia"
• Inventors: Mazur, Adam, Terelak, Kazimierz, Kolt, Jo, Czyz, Jerzy, Swiderski, Zbigniew, Rzodeczko, Anna, Grzywa, Edward, Kiedik, Maciej, Zajac, Eugeniusz, Bek, Teodor, Marszycki, Jerzy
• Primary Examiner(s): LONE, WERREN
• Application Number:
  US07/250,393
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 568/727, 568/728
• US Class Current: 568/727
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 37/20 using aldehydes or ketones
• CPC Class Codes: C07C 39/16 Bis-(hydroxyphenyl) alkanes; Tris-(hydroxyphenyl)alkanes

Abstract

A process for the production of bisphenol A from phenol and acetone, comprises introducing a substantially anhydrous reaction mixture of phenol, acetone, and recycled solution of bisphenol A and reaction by-products in phenol into a reaction zone containing a cation-exchange resin catalyst, such catalyst being a mixture of resin having a macroporous structure and resin having a microporous structure in a ratio of 0.05:1 to 0.5:1 by weight, the mol ratio of phenol to acetone being 5:1 to 30:1, and the concentration of bisphenol A being 12 to 20% by weight. The temperature of the reaction zone is maintained between 60 degrees and 95 degrees C. The resulting reacted reaction mixture is withdrawn from the reaction zone, the concentration of bisphenol A being 21 to 35% by weight and the amount of reaction by-products being 12 to 24% by weight. Such withdrawn reaction mixture is treated to recover bisphenol A product and to provide the recycled solution of bisphenol A and reaction by-products in phenol.

Claims

1. A process for the production of bisphenol A from phenol and acetone, which comprises introducing a substantially anhydrous reaction mixture of phenol, acetone, and recycled solution of bisphenol A and reaction by-products in phenol into a reaction zone containing a cation-exchange resin catalyst, said catalyst being a mixture of resin having a macroporous structure and resin having a microporous structure in a ratio of 0.05:

`to 0.5;

1 by weight, the mol ration of phenol to acetone being 5;

1 to 30;

1, the concentration of bisphenol A being 12 to 20% by weight;

maintaining the temperature of the reaction zone between 60 degrees and 95 degrees C;

withdrawing the resulting reacted reaction mixture from the reaction zone, the concentration of bisphenol A being 21 to 35% by weight, the amount of reaction by-products being 12 to 24% by weight; and

treating such withdrawn reaction mixture to recover bisphenol A product and to provide the recycled solution of bisphenol A and reaction by-products in phenol.

2. A process according to claim 1, in which the concentration of bisphenol A in the reaction mixture introduced into the reaction zone is 15 to 18% by weight.

3. A process according to claim 1, in which the concentration of bisphenol A in the withdrawn reaction mixture is 22 to 28% by weight.

4. A process according to claim 1, in which the amount of reaction by-products in the withdrawn reaction mixture is 16 to 20% by weight.

5. A process according to claim 1, in which the recycled solution of bisphenol A and reaction by-products in phenol includes a portion of the reaction mixture taken from the reaction zone.

6. A process according to claim 1, in which less than 1/4 of the reaction by-products contained in the reaction mixture introduced into the reaction zone comprises bisphenol A isomers.

7. A process according to claim 1, in which the reaction zone is vertically arranged, and the reaction mixture is introduced into the lower end of such reaction zone.