Method and system for bisphenol a production using water
First Claim
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1. A method of making a relatively high-purity bisphenol A product from a bisphenol A adduct solid while inhibiting decomposition of bisphenol A, the adduct solid comprising bisphenol A and at least about 25 weight percent phenol, the method comprising:
- a) mixing an adduct solid comprising bisphenol A and at least about 25 weight percent phenol with water, the water being at a temperature less than about 150°
C., thereby reducing the melting point of the adduct solid and forming an adduct solution;
b) introducing the adduct solution into a separation column wherein an overhead stream exits the column near the top of the column, a bottoms stream exits the column near the bottom of the column, and a feed stream enters the column between the exiting points of the overhead and bottoms streams;
c) separating sufficient phenol from the solution in the column such that the bottoms stream contains less than about one weight percent phenol;
d) forming solids in at least a portion of the bottoms stream and recovering a solid product from such solids, the solid product comprising at least about 99 weight percent bisphenol A; and
e) inhibiting decomposition of bisphenol A by substantially avoiding exposure of the bisphenol A to a temperature above about 150°
C. when the number of moles of phenol present is less than the number of moles of bisphenol A present.
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Abstract
Methods/systems for making a relatively high-purity bisphenol A product from phenol and acetone. Controlled turbulence is used to form bisphenol A adduct solids having improved physical properties. Phenol is separated from the bisphenol A product while inhibiting decomposition of bisphenol A.
80 Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method of making a relatively high-purity bisphenol A product from a bisphenol A adduct solid while inhibiting decomposition of bisphenol A, the adduct solid comprising bisphenol A and at least about 25 weight percent phenol, the method comprising:
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a) mixing an adduct solid comprising bisphenol A and at least about 25 weight percent phenol with water, the water being at a temperature less than about 150°
C., thereby reducing the melting point of the adduct solid and forming an adduct solution;b) introducing the adduct solution into a separation column wherein an overhead stream exits the column near the top of the column, a bottoms stream exits the column near the bottom of the column, and a feed stream enters the column between the exiting points of the overhead and bottoms streams; c) separating sufficient phenol from the solution in the column such that the bottoms stream contains less than about one weight percent phenol; d) forming solids in at least a portion of the bottoms stream and recovering a solid product from such solids, the solid product comprising at least about 99 weight percent bisphenol A; and e) inhibiting decomposition of bisphenol A by substantially avoiding exposure of the bisphenol A to a temperature above about 150°
C. when the number of moles of phenol present is less than the number of moles of bisphenol A present. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 45)
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33. A method of making a relatively high-purity bisphenol A product from a bisphenol A adduct solid while inhibiting decomposition of bisphenol A, the adduct solid comprising at least about 25 weight percent phenol, the method comprising:
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a) heating the adduct solid to form an adduct melt comprising bisphenol A and at least about 25 weight percent phenol, the heating being at a temperature less than about 150°
C.;b) mixing water with the adduct melt, the water being at a temperature of less than about 150°
C., to form an adduct solution;c) introducing the adduct solution into a separation column wherein an overhead stream exits the column near the top of the column, a bottoms stream exits the column near the bottom of the column, and a feed stream enters the column between the exiting points of the overhead and bottoms streams; d) separating sufficient phenol from the adduct solution in the column such that the bottoms stream contains less than about one weight percent phenol; e) forming solids in at least a portion of the bottoms stream and recovering a solid product from such solids, the solid product comprising at least about 99 weight percent bisphenol A; and f) inhibiting decomposition of bisphenol A by substantially avoiding exposure of the bisphenol A to a temperature above about 150°
C. when the number of moles of phenol present is less than the number of moles of bisphenol A present. - View Dependent Claims (34)
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35. A method of making a relatively high-purity bisphenol A product from a bisphenol A adduct solid while inhibiting decomposition of bisphenol A, the adduct solid comprising at least about 25 weight percent phenol, the method comprising:
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a) preparing an adduct solid comprising bisphenol A and at least about 25 weight percent phenol; b) mixing the adduct solid with water, the water being at a temperature less than about 150°
C., thereby reducing the melting point of the adduct solid and forming an adduct solution;c) introducing the adduct solution into a separation column operating at a pressure of at least atmospheric wherein an overhead stream exits the column near the top of the column, a bottoms stream exits the column near the bottom of the column, and a feed stream enters the column between the exiting points of the overhead and bottoms streams; d) adding steam into the column; e) separating sufficient phenol from the solution in the column such that the bottoms stream contains less than about one weight percent phenol; f) forming solids in at least a portion of the bottoms stream and recovering a solid product from such solids, the solid product comprising at least about 99 weight percent bisphenol A; and g) inhibiting decomposition of bisphenol A by substantially avoiding exposure of the bisphenol A to a temperature above about 150°
C. when the number of moles of phenol present is less than the number of moles of bisphenol A present. - View Dependent Claims (36)
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43. A method of making a relatively high-purity bisphenol A product from a bisphenol A adduct solid while inhibiting decomposition of bisphenol A, the adduct solid comprising at least about 29 weight percent phenol, the method comprising:
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a) heating the adduct solid to form an adduct melt comprising bisphenol A and at least about 29 weight percent phenol, the heating being at a temperature less than about 150°
C.;b) introducing the adduct solution into a separation column wherein an overhead stream exits the column near the top of the column, a bottoms stream exits the column near the bottom of the column, and a feed stream enters the column between the exiting points of the overhead and bottoms streams; c) adding water at a temperature above ambient temperature to the column; d) separating sufficient phenol from the adduct solution in the column such that the bottoms stream contains less than about one weight percent phenol; e) forming solids in at least a portion of the bottoms stream and recovering a solid product from such solids, the solid product comprising at least about 99 weight percent bisphenol A; and f) inhibiting decomposition of bisphenol A by substantially avoiding exposure of the bisphenol A to a temperature above about 150°
C. when the number of moles of phenol present is less than the number of moles of bisphenol A present. - View Dependent Claims (44)
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Specification