Inventors:
Jihad M. Dakka - Whitehouse Station NJ, US
J. Scott Buchanan - Lambertville NJ, US
Jane C. Cheng - Bridgewater NJ, US
Tan-Jen Chen - Kingwood TX, US
Lorenzo C. DeCaul - Langhorne PA, US
Terry E. Helton - Bethlehem PA, US
Jon E. Stanat - Westhampton Beach NY, US
Francisco M. Benitez - Houston TX, US
Assignee:
ExxonMobil Chemical Patents Inc. - Houston TX
International Classification:
C06C 2/68
C07C 5/327
C07C 45/27
C07C 27/08
US Classification:
585323, 585446, 585467, 585440, 568361, 568798
Abstract:
In a process for producing phenol and/or cyclohexanone, benzene and hydrogen are contacted with a first catalyst in a hydroalkylation step to produce a first effluent stream comprising cyclohexylbenzene, cyclohexane, and unreacted benzene. At least part of the first effluent stream is supplied to a first separation system to divide the first effluent stream part into a cyclohexylbenzene-rich stream and a C6 product stream comprising unreacted benzene and cyclohexane.