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.

The disclosure concerns systems and methods for the production of phenol and acetone from cumene oxidation products. One method comprises reacting cumene and an oxidizing agent to produce a cumene oxidation product comprising cumene hydroperoxide and dimethyl benzyl alcohol, converting at least a portion of the dimethyl benzyl alcohol to cumene hydroperoxide by reacting the at least a portion of the dimethyl benzyl alcohol with hydrogen peroxide in both an organic phase and an aqueous to produce a converted cumene oxidation product, and cleaving the converted cumene oxidation product to produce an output product comprising one or more of phenol, acetone, and alpha-methylstyrene.

The disclosure concerns systems and methods for the production of phenol and acetone from cumene oxidation products. One method comprises reacting cumene and an oxidizing agent to produce a cumene oxidation product comprising cumene hydroperoxide and dimethyl benzyl alcohol, converting at least a portion of the dimethyl benzyl alcohol to cumene hydroperoxide by reacting the at least a portion of the dimethyl benzyl alcohol with hydrogen peroxide in both an organic phase and an aqueous to produce a converted cumene oxidation product, and cleaving the converted cumene oxidation product to produce an output product comprising one or more of phenol, acetone, and alpha-methylstyrene.

The disclosure concerns methods comprising forming a phenol and acetone mixture from decomposition of a cumene hydroperoxide or a phenol, acetone, and AMS from the decomposition of a mixture containing dicumyl peroxide in a system comprising one or more reactors where at least a portion of an inner surface of the one or more reactors has a polymer coating and wherein the coating inhibits build-up of a fouling precipitate on the coated inner surface of the one or more reactors as compared to such build-up in the absence of the coating.

The disclosure concerns methods comprising forming a phenol and acetone mixture from decomposition of a cumene hydroperoxide or a phenol, acetone, and AMS from the decomposition of a mixture containing dicumyl peroxide in a system comprising one or more reactors where at least a portion of an inner surface of the one or more reactors has a polymer coating and wherein the coating inhibits build-up of a fouling precipitate on the coated inner surface of the one or more reactors as compared to such build-up in the absence of the coating.

This application relates to the production of functionalized lower hydrocarbons and more particularly to the process of converting ethanol to functionalized lower hydrocarbons. In particular embodiments, the ethanol to functionalized lower hydrocarbon conversion is catalyzed by a Zn.sub.xZr.sub.yA.sub.vQ.sub.sMn.sub.wO.sub.z mixed oxide catalyst or a bifunctional heterogeneous catalyst. In particular embodiments, the ethanol to be converted is present at molar concentrations in the reactor feed equal to or exceeding 14%.

This application relates to the production of functionalized lower hydrocarbons and more particularly to the process of converting ethanol to functionalized lower hydrocarbons. In particular embodiments, the ethanol to functionalized lower hydrocarbon conversion is catalyzed by a Zn.sub.xZr.sub.yA.sub.vQ.sub.sMn.sub.wO.sub.z mixed oxide catalyst or a bifunctional heterogeneous catalyst. In particular embodiments, the ethanol to be converted is present at molar concentrations in the reactor feed equal to or exceeding 14%.

The present application relates to a distillation device, and according to the distillation device of the present application, in first and second compounds being capable of forming an azeotrope, by introducing the second compound having a relatively high boiling point into a supply port located below the first compound having a relatively low boiling point, the first compound can be previously separated from the top of a first distillation column and the content of the first compound in the flow discharged from the bottom of the first distillation column can be minimized, and thus, as a moving route of the first compound is minimized, the second compound can be separated in high purity.

The present application relates to a distillation device, and according to the distillation device of the present application, in first and second compounds being capable of forming an azeotrope, by introducing the second compound having a relatively high boiling point into a supply port located below the first compound having a relatively low boiling point, the first compound can be previously separated from the top of a first distillation column and the content of the first compound in the flow discharged from the bottom of the first distillation column can be minimized, and thus, as a moving route of the first compound is minimized, the second compound can be separated in high purity.

Process for the manufacture of at least one alcohol and/or at least one ketone, which comprises a step during which at least one organic peroxide compound is put into contact with at least one catalyst responding to formula (I) CrN.sub.xO.sub.y Formula (I) in which x is a number varying from 0.10 to 1.00 and y is a number varying from 0.00 to 1.50, in order to produce the at least one alcohol and/or at least one ketone.