Process Economics Program Report 22
Phenol
Published April 1967
This report is concerned with the commercial processes for the synthesis of phenol. Processes for phenol recovery from coal tar, coke oven, and petroleum refinery, the so-called natural phenol, are not included. Six processes now used in commercial operations are evaluated and compared on a basis of 100 million pounds annual capacity. Another process, direct oxidation of irradiated benzene, is also evaluated and its potential discussed. A few processes mentioned in the literature are briefly surveyed and commented upon. Effort has been made to introduce in the plant design the patent features that seem to us to be most efficient and economical. As a consequence, the processes as evaluated may depart somewhat from those actually used in the trade.