The invention relates to a process for producing olefins from alcohols by means of catalytic dehydration. More in particular, the present invention relates to a process for producing at least one olefin by dehydrating at least one alcohol having a number of carbon atoms comprised between 2 and 6, preferably comprised between 2 and 4, more preferably at least one alcohol having a number of carbon atoms of 3, even more preferably 2-propanol, in the presence of a catalytic material comprising at least one large pore zeolite in acid form, or predominantly acid form, preferably selected from the group consisting of zeolites having BEA structure, MTW structure and mixtures thereof, and preferably at least one inorganic binder, more preferably alumina. Preferably, the olefin has the same number of carbon atoms as the starting alcohol. Furthermore, preferably the olefin does not contain conjugated double bonds and more preferably the olefin is a mono-olefin. Subject matter of the present invention is also the use of the aforementioned olefin in an alkylation process of aromatic hydrocarbons, in particular the use of propylene for alkylating benzene to provide cumene. The aforementioned cumene can be used in an integrated process for preparing phenol and acetone, in accordance with the Hock method, wherein acetone can be reduced to 2-propanol, to be recycled to the process of the invention to obtain propylene again.

The invention relates to a process for producing olefins from alcohols by means of catalytic dehydration. More in particular, the present invention relates to a process for producing at least one olefin by dehydrating at least one alcohol having a number of carbon atoms comprised between 2 and 6, preferably comprised between 2 and 4, more preferably at least one alcohol having a number of carbon atoms of 3, even more preferably 2-propanol, in the presence of a catalytic material comprising at least one large pore zeolite in acid form, or predominantly acid form, preferably selected from the group consisting of zeolites having BEA structure, MTW structure and mixtures thereof, and preferably at least one inorganic binder, more preferably alumina. Preferably, the olefin has the same number of carbon atoms as the starting alcohol. Furthermore, preferably the olefin does not contain conjugated double bonds and more preferably the olefin is a mono-olefin. Subject matter of the present invention is also the use of the aforementioned olefin in an alkylation process of aromatic hydrocarbons, in particular the use of propylene for alkylating benzene to provide cumene. The aforementioned cumene can be used in an integrated process for preparing phenol and acetone, in accordance with the Hock method, wherein acetone can be reduced to 2-propanol, to be recycled to the process of the invention to obtain propylene again.

Methods and systems for preparing acetone from cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) are disclosed. The methods and systems involve an acetone purification column configured to separate acetone from other components of the product/reactant stream. The acetone purification column is equipped with a side draw configured to route a portion of the column contents to a caustic treating vessel where the contents are reacted with a dilute aqueous alkaline solution to remove aldehydes from the acetone product. The contents of the caustic treating vessel are then routed back to the acetone purification column. Using a separate caustic treating vessel for the aldehydes removal provides increased contact time between the acetone product and the alkaline solution, thereby affording greater aldehydes removal.

Methods and systems for preparing acetone from cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) are disclosed. The methods and systems involve an acetone purification column configured to separate acetone from other components of the product/reactant stream. The acetone purification column is equipped with a side draw configured to route a portion of the column contents to a caustic treating vessel where the contents are reacted with a dilute aqueous alkaline solution to remove aldehydes from the acetone product. The contents of the caustic treating vessel are then routed back to the acetone purification column. Using a separate caustic treating vessel for the aldehydes removal provides increased contact time between the acetone product and the alkaline solution, thereby affording greater aldehydes removal.

Disclosed are a process for abating 3-cyclohexenone from a feed mixture comprising 3-cylclohexenone and cyclohexanone, comprising a hydrogenation step of contacting the feed mixture with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst under hydrogenation conditions to obtain a hydrogenated mixture, cyclohexanone-containing products comprising 3-cyclohexenone and/or 2-cyclohexenone at low concentrations, and compositions of matter useful for making such cyclohexanone-containing products, particularly by using such processes.

Disclosed are a process for abating 3-cyclohexenone from a feed mixture comprising 3-cylclohexenone and cyclohexanone, comprising a hydrogenation step of contacting the feed mixture with hydrogen in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst under hydrogenation conditions to obtain a hydrogenated mixture, cyclohexanone-containing products comprising 3-cyclohexenone and/or 2-cyclohexenone at low concentrations, and compositions of matter useful for making such cyclohexanone-containing products, particularly by using such processes.

The present disclosure relates to a process for acid-catalyzed decomposition of aryl -hydroperoxide with a continuous flow tubular reactor. The process is a novel process performed in a tubular reactor, taking the aryl -hydroperoxide such as cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) as a raw material and taking acids as a catalyst, performing acid-catalyzed decomposition of the aryl -hydroperoxide solution in a short reaction time ranging from tens of seconds to several minutes, thereby obtaining the phenols; wherein an inert component may be filled in the reactor, so that the effects of heat transmission and mass transfer can be enhanced. The aryl -hydroperoxide and acid are respectively introduced by a metering pump into a mixing module to be mixed, and then enter the tubular reactor to be reacted so as to produce the products such as phenols.

The present disclosure relates to a process for acid-catalyzed decomposition of aryl -hydroperoxide with a continuous flow tubular reactor. The process is a novel process performed in a tubular reactor, taking the aryl -hydroperoxide such as cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) as a raw material and taking acids as a catalyst, performing acid-catalyzed decomposition of the aryl -hydroperoxide solution in a short reaction time ranging from tens of seconds to several minutes, thereby obtaining the phenols; wherein an inert component may be filled in the reactor, so that the effects of heat transmission and mass transfer can be enhanced. The aryl -hydroperoxide and acid are respectively introduced by a metering pump into a mixing module to be mixed, and then enter the tubular reactor to be reacted so as to produce the products such as phenols.

The present disclosure relates to a process for acid-catalyzed decomposition of aryl -hydroperoxide with a continuous flow tubular reactor. The process is a novel process performed in a tubular reactor, taking the aryl -hydroperoxide such as cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) as a raw material and taking acids as a catalyst, performing acid-catalyzed decomposition of the aryl -hydroperoxide solution in a short reaction time ranging from tens of seconds to several minutes, thereby obtaining the phenols; wherein an inert component may be filled in the reactor, so that the effects of heat transmission and mass transfer can be enhanced. The aryl -hydroperoxide and acid are respectively introduced by a metering pump into a mixing module to be mixed, and then enter the tubular reactor to be reacted so as to produce the products such as phenols.

Disclosed are processes for abating 3-cyclohexenone from a feed mixture comprising cyclohexylbenzene, cyclohexanone, phenol, and 3-cyclohexenone and cyclohexanone, comprising feeding the feed mixture to a first distillation column and a hydrogenating a fraction from in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst under hydrogenation conditions. Hydrogenation can be carried out in a hydrogenation reactor separate from the first distillation column or in a hydrogenation zone disposed inside the first distillation column.