A method of oxygenating a benzylic C—H bond is provided. The method comprises light induced activation of an initiator and subsequent reaction with oxygen, resulting in the formation of free radicals. Subsequently, free radicals catalyze the reaction of the benzylic C—H bond with oxygen, thereby forming an oxygenated compound.

A method of oxygenating a benzylic C—H bond is provided. The method comprises light induced activation of an initiator and subsequent reaction with oxygen, resulting in the formation of free radicals. Subsequently, free radicals catalyze the reaction of the benzylic C—H bond with oxygen, thereby forming an oxygenated compound.

A method for oxidizing a hydrocarbon includes feeding an oxidant to a top portion of a reactor; reacting the hydrocarbon with the oxidant in the reactor to obtain a reaction product stream, the reaction product stream exiting a reactor outlet at a bottom portion of the reactor; and recycling a portion of the reaction product stream to the top portion of the reactor; and introducing the oxidant into an oxidation liquid comprising the portion of the reaction product stream recycled to the top portion of the reactor to form a reaction media stream entering a reactor inlet at the top portion of the reactor. A pressure of the reactor outlet exceeds a pressure of the reactor inlet by at least 5%. The reaction media stream moves vertically downwards in the reactor.

A method for oxidizing a hydrocarbon includes feeding an oxidant to a top portion of a reactor; reacting the hydrocarbon with the oxidant in the reactor to obtain a reaction product stream, the reaction product stream exiting a reactor outlet at a bottom portion of the reactor; and recycling a portion of the reaction product stream to the top portion of the reactor; and introducing the oxidant into an oxidation liquid comprising the portion of the reaction product stream recycled to the top portion of the reactor to form a reaction media stream entering a reactor inlet at the top portion of the reactor. A pressure of the reactor outlet exceeds a pressure of the reactor inlet by at least 5%. The reaction media stream moves vertically downwards in the reactor.

A process for the treatment of waste water, spent air, and hydrocarbon containing liquid and gaseous streams in the cumene/phenol complex is described. Various effluent streams are combined in appropriate collection vessels, including a spent air knockout drum, a hydrocarbon buffer vessel, a fuel gas knockout drum, a phenolic water vessel, and a non-phenolic water vessel. Streams from these vessels are sent to a thermal oxidation system.

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.

A process for the treatment of waste water, spent air, and hydrocarbon containing liquid and gaseous streams in the cumene/phenol complex is described. Various effluent streams are combined in appropriate collection vessels, including a spent air knockout drum, a hydrocarbon buffer vessel, a fuel gas knockout drum, a phenolic water vessel, and a non-phenolic water vessel. Streams from these vessels are sent to a thermal oxidation system.

The invention relates to a new catalytic composition for the alkylation of aromatic compounds with alcohols, or mixtures of alcohols and corresponding olefins, wherein said composition comprises a zeolite of the MTW type and is characterized in that it contains one or more alkaline metals in a total quantity which is less than or equal to 0.02% by weight. The use of said catalyst in the alkylation of aromatic compounds with alcohols, in particular benzene with isopropanol or ethanol, allows the formation, as by-product, of the aldehyde or ketone corresponding to the alcohol used, to be minimized: the formation of reaction by-products of said aldehydes or ketones having a boiling point very close to that of polyalkylation products, is therefore significantly reduced. This provides a considerable advantage in the subsequent transalkylation step for the recovery of said polyalkylates by transformation into the corresponding monoalkylates.

The invention relates to a new catalytic composition for the alkylation of aromatic compounds with alcohols, or mixtures of alcohols and corresponding olefins, wherein said composition comprises a zeolite of the MTW type and is characterized in that it contains one or more alkaline metals in a total quantity which is less than or equal to 0.02% by weight. The use of said catalyst in the alkylation of aromatic compounds with alcohols, in particular benzene with isopropanol or ethanol, allows the formation, as by-product, of the aldehyde or ketone corresponding to the alcohol used, to be minimized: the formation of reaction by-products of said aldehydes or ketones having a boiling point very close to that of polyalkylation products, is therefore significantly reduced. This provides a considerable advantage in the subsequent transalkylation step for the recovery of said polyalkylates by transformation into the corresponding monoalkylates.