Disclosed are processes and systems for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene, comprising a step of or a device for subjecting at least a portion of the mixture to hydrogenation and a step of or a device for distilling a phenol/cyclohexanone/cyclohexylbenzene mixture to obtain an effluent rich in cyclohexanone.

Disclosed are processes and systems for making cyclohexanone from a mixture comprising phenol, cyclohexanone, and cyclohexylbenzene, comprising a step of or a device for subjecting at least a portion of the mixture to hydrogenation and a step of or a device for distilling a phenol/cyclohexanone/cyclohexylbenzene mixture to obtain an effluent rich in cyclohexanone.

A method for the manufacture of a sulfonated phenol for use as a cumene hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst can comprise: combining phenol and a sulfonating agent at a first temperature that is 1° C. to 15° C. higher than a melting temperature of the phenol, to form a reaction mixture at the first temperature; reducing the first temperature of the reaction mixture to a second temperature that is 10 to 40° C. lower than the first temperature; and forming the sulfonated phenol at the second temperature.

A method for the manufacture of a sulfonated phenol for use as a cumene hydroperoxide decomposition catalyst can comprise: combining phenol and a sulfonating agent at a first temperature that is 1° C. to 15° C. higher than a melting temperature of the phenol, to form a reaction mixture at the first temperature; reducing the first temperature of the reaction mixture to a second temperature that is 10 to 40° C. lower than the first temperature; and forming the sulfonated phenol at the second temperature.

A method of producing phenol and acetone can comprise: alkylating benzene with a C.sub.2-6 alkyl source in the presence of a zeolite catalyst to produce a C.sub.8-12 alkylbenzene; oxidizing the C.sub.8-12 alkylbenzene in the presence of an oxygen containing gas to produce a C.sub.8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide; cleaving decomposing the C.sub.8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce phenol, a C.sub.3-6 ketone, and undesirable side products such as, but not limited to acetaldehyde, DMBA, acetophenel one, AMS, AMS dimers, unidentified heavies, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and monitoring a concentration of the C.sub.8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide in a process stream of a reactor in real time at a temperature and a pressure of the process stream; and in real time, controlling a parameter of the reactor and/or the cleaving decomposing in response to the concentration of the C.sub.8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide.

A method of producing phenol and acetone can comprise: alkylating benzene with a C.sub.2-6 alkyl source in the presence of a zeolite catalyst to produce a C.sub.8-12 alkylbenzene; oxidizing the C.sub.8-12 alkylbenzene in the presence of an oxygen containing gas to produce a C.sub.8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide; cleaving decomposing the C.sub.8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide in the presence of an acid catalyst to produce phenol, a C.sub.3-6 ketone, and undesirable side products such as, but not limited to acetaldehyde, DMBA, acetophenel one, AMS, AMS dimers, unidentified heavies, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and monitoring a concentration of the C.sub.8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide in a process stream of a reactor in real time at a temperature and a pressure of the process stream; and in real time, controlling a parameter of the reactor and/or the cleaving decomposing in response to the concentration of the C.sub.8-12 alkylbenzene hydroperoxide.

A process for recovery of materials from a mother liquor residue comprising cracking a mother liquor residue with an aromatic sulfonic acid catalyst to form a cracked product mixture and separating phenol from the cracked product mixture wherein the mother liquor residue results from distillation of a mother liquor resulting from bisphenol A synthesis and isolation.

A process for recovery of materials from a mother liquor residue comprising cracking a mother liquor residue with an aromatic sulfonic acid catalyst to form a cracked product mixture and separating phenol from the cracked product mixture wherein the mother liquor residue results from distillation of a mother liquor resulting from bisphenol A synthesis and isolation.

This specification discloses an operational continuous process to convert lignin as found in ligno-cellulosic biomass before or after converting at least some of the carbohydrates. The continuous process has been demonstrated to create a slurry comprised of lignin, raise the slurry comprised of lignin to ultra-high pressure, deoxygenate the lignin in a lignin conversion reactor over a catalyst which is not a fixed bed without producing char. The conversion products of the carbohydrates or lignin can be further processed into polyester intermediates for use in polyester preforms and bottles.

This specification discloses an operational continuous process to convert lignin as found in ligno-cellulosic biomass before or after converting at least some of the carbohydrates. The continuous process has been demonstrated to create a slurry comprised of lignin, raise the slurry comprised of lignin to ultra-high pressure, deoxygenate the lignin in a lignin conversion reactor over a catalyst which is not a fixed bed without producing char. The conversion products of the carbohydrates or lignin can be further processed into polyester intermediates for use in polyester preforms and bottles.