Process for the production of high purity and ultrapure bisphenol-A
First Claim
1. A process for the production of bisphenol-A comprising the steps of (1) reacting excess phenol and acetone in the presence of catalyst, (2) cooling the reaction mixture to form adduct crystals of bisphenol-A with phenol and a first mother liquor, (3) separating the adduct crystals from the first mother liquor and (4) removing phenol from the adduct crystalswherein in step (1), excess phenol is reacted with acetone in a substantially vertical, multiple stage suspended reactive stripping apparatus comprising(i) a reactor column which includes a side wall and a bottom,(ii) a plurality of perforated trays provided in the reactor column,(iii) a first screen located on each tray,(iv) a plurality of downcomers interconnecting the trays, each of the downcomers having a second screen connected to the top thereof, the second screen, a portion of each said downcomers, a portion of the side wall of the reactor column and one of the perforated trays with the first screen thereon in combination defining a catalyst chamber, and(v) a modified strong acid ion-exchange resin catalyst in the form of particulate solid contained within the catalyst chamber, andwherein all of the phenol necessary for the condensation reaction thereof with acetone is charged to the reactor column from above the uppermost tray, portions of all the required acetone are charged to the tray next to the uppermost tray and at least some of the lower trays, and an inert gaseous stream is upwardly passed through the catalyst chambers to form solid-liquid suspensions and to strip water from the reaction mixture.
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Accused Products
Abstract
High purity and ultrapure bisphenol A is prepared in a novel process.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A process for the production of bisphenol-A comprising the steps of (1) reacting excess phenol and acetone in the presence of catalyst, (2) cooling the reaction mixture to form adduct crystals of bisphenol-A with phenol and a first mother liquor, (3) separating the adduct crystals from the first mother liquor and (4) removing phenol from the adduct crystals
wherein in step (1), excess phenol is reacted with acetone in a substantially vertical, multiple stage suspended reactive stripping apparatus comprising (i) a reactor column which includes a side wall and a bottom, (ii) a plurality of perforated trays provided in the reactor column, (iii) a first screen located on each tray, (iv) a plurality of downcomers interconnecting the trays, each of the downcomers having a second screen connected to the top thereof, the second screen, a portion of each said downcomers, a portion of the side wall of the reactor column and one of the perforated trays with the first screen thereon in combination defining a catalyst chamber, and (v) a modified strong acid ion-exchange resin catalyst in the form of particulate solid contained within the catalyst chamber, and wherein all of the phenol necessary for the condensation reaction thereof with acetone is charged to the reactor column from above the uppermost tray, portions of all the required acetone are charged to the tray next to the uppermost tray and at least some of the lower trays, and an inert gaseous stream is upwardly passed through the catalyst chambers to form solid-liquid suspensions and to strip water from the reaction mixture.
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22. A process for the production of bisphenol-A, comprising:
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reacting acetone and phenol to form a reaction mixture containing bisphenol-A and water, cooling the reaction mixture to form bisphenol-A-phenol adduct crystals and a mother liquor, separating the adduct crystals from the mother liquor and removing phenol from the adduct crystals to obtain bisphenol-A, wherein the reaction of acetone and phenol is conducted in a reactor column having a plurality of perforated trays supporting a solid particulate catalyst, and an inert gas is passed upwardly through the reactor column during reaction in order to agitate the catalyst particles while stripping water from the reaction mixture, thereby forming a reaction mixture effluent having a reduced water content. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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Specification