A method of decomposing a phenol by-product produced in a phenol preparation process, in which acetophenone separated from a distillation column is mixed with tar separated and collected in a decomposition reactor, thereby significantly decreasing viscosity of tar. The decomposition method according to the present invention allows tar to have sufficient viscosity for flowability even at room temperature, whereby transfer and storage of tar may be more smoothly done without using any heating device for transfer of tar.

A method for producing bisphenol A (BPA) is provided. The method includes step A of degrading a polycarbonate resin in a solvent and distilling off the solvent to obtain a crude solution A; step B of subjecting acetone and phenol to dehydration condensation; step C of distilling off unreacted acetone and water to obtain a concentrated liquid C; step D of crystallizing the concentrated liquid C to obtain a slurry liquid, from which a mother liquor D is obtained; step H of obtaining a solution H1 or a solution H2 from the crude solution A and part of the mother liquor D; and step I of supplying the solution H1 or H2 to the step B or C. The solution H1 contains BPA obtained by degrading BPA contained in the crude solution A and the mother liquor D into phenol and isopropenylphenol and then rebonding phenol and isopropenylphenol, and the solution H2 contains phenol obtained by degrading BPA contained in the crude solution A and the mother liquor D into phenol and acetone.

A method for producing bisphenol A (BPA) is provided. The method includes step A of degrading a polycarbonate resin in a solvent and distilling off the solvent to obtain a crude solution A; step B of subjecting acetone and phenol to dehydration condensation; step C of distilling off unreacted acetone and water to obtain a concentrated liquid C; step D of crystallizing the concentrated liquid C to obtain a slurry liquid, from which a mother liquor D is obtained; step H of obtaining a solution H1 or a solution H2 from the crude solution A and part of the mother liquor D; and step I of supplying the solution H1 or H2 to the step B or C. The solution H1 contains BPA obtained by degrading BPA contained in the crude solution A and the mother liquor D into phenol and isopropenylphenol and then rebonding phenol and isopropenylphenol, and the solution H2 contains phenol obtained by degrading BPA contained in the crude solution A and the mother liquor D into phenol and acetone.

The present invention provides improved solvents, methods, and systems for isolating purified cannabinoids from various sources. It has been found that C.sub.9 to C.sub.11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, and especially n-decane, work surprisingly well for crystallization of cannabinoids such as cannabidiol. Some variations provide a method of isolating cannabinoids from a cannabinoid-containing solution, comprising contacting the solution with a C.sub.9-C.sub.11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent (e.g., n-decane) at a first temperature, to generate a mixture; cooling the mixture to precipitate cannabinoids; and isolating the precipitated cannabinoids. Other variations provide a method of isolating cannabinoids from a cannabinoid-containing solution, comprising contacting the solution with a C.sub.9-C.sub.11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent (e.g., n-decane) at a first temperature below the solvent boiling point, to generate a mixture; subjecting the mixture to a second temperature that causes vaporization of the solvent, to precipitate at least some of the cannabinoids; and isolating the precipitated cannabinoids.

The present invention provides improved solvents, methods, and systems for isolating purified cannabinoids from various sources. It has been found that C.sub.9 to C.sub.11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, and especially n-decane, work surprisingly well for crystallization of cannabinoids such as cannabidiol. Some variations provide a method of isolating cannabinoids from a cannabinoid-containing solution, comprising contacting the solution with a C.sub.9-C.sub.11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent (e.g., n-decane) at a first temperature, to generate a mixture; cooling the mixture to precipitate cannabinoids; and isolating the precipitated cannabinoids. Other variations provide a method of isolating cannabinoids from a cannabinoid-containing solution, comprising contacting the solution with a C.sub.9-C.sub.11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent (e.g., n-decane) at a first temperature below the solvent boiling point, to generate a mixture; subjecting the mixture to a second temperature that causes vaporization of the solvent, to precipitate at least some of the cannabinoids; and isolating the precipitated cannabinoids.

Some variations provide a process of converting a cannabinoid into a purified cannabinoid derivative, comprising: providing a starting composition comprising a cannabinoid; providing a C.sub.9-C.sub.11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent; introducing the starting composition and the solvent to a conversion reactor; chemically converting some, but not all, of the cannabinoid to a cannabinoid derivative, generating a reaction mixture containing unreacted cannabinoid; conveying the reaction mixture to a crystallization unit; cooling the reaction mixture to precipitate unreacted cannabinoid out of the reaction mixture, thereby generating a mother liquor containing the cannabinoid derivative; and isolating and recovering the cannabinoid derivative from the mother liquor. Systems configured to carry out the disclosed processes are also provided. This invention offers a large-scale solution to economically convert CBD to D9-THC, among many other example. The principles of the invention may be applied to the conversion of various cannabinoids and terpenes into derivative products.

Some variations provide a process of converting a cannabinoid into a purified cannabinoid derivative, comprising: providing a starting composition comprising a cannabinoid; providing a C.sub.9-C.sub.11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent; introducing the starting composition and the solvent to a conversion reactor; chemically converting some, but not all, of the cannabinoid to a cannabinoid derivative, generating a reaction mixture containing unreacted cannabinoid; conveying the reaction mixture to a crystallization unit; cooling the reaction mixture to precipitate unreacted cannabinoid out of the reaction mixture, thereby generating a mother liquor containing the cannabinoid derivative; and isolating and recovering the cannabinoid derivative from the mother liquor. Systems configured to carry out the disclosed processes are also provided. This invention offers a large-scale solution to economically convert CBD to D9-THC, among many other example. The principles of the invention may be applied to the conversion of various cannabinoids and terpenes into derivative products.

Some variations provide a process of converting a cannabinoid into a purified cannabinoid derivative, comprising: providing a starting composition comprising a cannabinoid; providing a C.sub.9-C.sub.11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent; introducing the starting composition and the solvent to a conversion reactor; chemically converting some, but not all, of the cannabinoid to a cannabinoid derivative, generating a reaction mixture containing unreacted cannabinoid; conveying the reaction mixture to a crystallization unit; cooling the reaction mixture to precipitate unreacted cannabinoid out of the reaction mixture, thereby generating a mother liquor containing the cannabinoid derivative; and isolating and recovering the cannabinoid derivative from the mother liquor. Systems configured to carry out the disclosed processes are also provided. This invention offers a large-scale solution to economically convert CBD to D9-THC, among many other example. The principles of the invention may be applied to the conversion of various cannabinoids and terpenes into derivative products.

Some variations provide a process of converting a cannabinoid into a purified cannabinoid derivative, comprising: providing a starting composition comprising a cannabinoid; providing a C.sub.9-C.sub.11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent; introducing the starting composition and the solvent to a conversion reactor; chemically converting some, but not all, of the cannabinoid to a cannabinoid derivative, generating a reaction mixture containing unreacted cannabinoid; conveying the reaction mixture to a crystallization unit; cooling the reaction mixture to precipitate unreacted cannabinoid out of the reaction mixture, thereby generating a mother liquor containing the cannabinoid derivative; and isolating and recovering the cannabinoid derivative from the mother liquor. Systems configured to carry out the disclosed processes are also provided. This invention offers a large-scale solution to economically convert CBD to D9-THC, among many other example. The principles of the invention may be applied to the conversion of various cannabinoids and terpenes into derivative products.

Some variations provide a process of converting a cannabinoid into a purified cannabinoid derivative, comprising: providing a starting composition comprising a cannabinoid; providing a C.sub.9-C.sub.11 non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent; introducing the starting composition and the solvent to a conversion reactor; chemically converting some, but not all, of the cannabinoid to a cannabinoid derivative, generating a reaction mixture containing unreacted cannabinoid; conveying the reaction mixture to a crystallization unit; cooling the reaction mixture to precipitate unreacted cannabinoid out of the reaction mixture, thereby generating a mother liquor containing the cannabinoid derivative; and isolating and recovering the cannabinoid derivative from the mother liquor. Systems configured to carry out the disclosed processes are also provided. This invention offers a large-scale solution to economically convert CBD to D9-THC, among many other example. The principles of the invention may be applied to the conversion of various cannabinoids and terpenes into derivative products.