Phenol-formaldehyde preparation detailed Guide [2023]

Phenol-formaldehyde preparation guide

Phenol-formaldehyde is considered to be the first polymeric product produced commercially. In 1872 Van Bayer obtained a colorless noncrystalline resinous product from reaction with formaldehyde.

The bulk of phenol available today is obtained synthetically from benzene or other chemicals by sulphonation, Raschig, and cumene process.

The cumene process developed by hock and lang is the most important synthetic process for the production of phenol and accounts for more than 95% of synthetic phenol capacity. In this process liquid propylene, containing some propane is mixed with benzene and passed through a reaction tower containing phosphoric acid.

The reaction is exothermic and propane present in it acts as a quench medium. A small quantity of water is injected into the reactor to maintain catalyst activity.

The fluid from the reactor is then passed through distillation columns.

The propane is partly recycled, the unreacted benzene return to feed and cumene take off.

The cumene is then oxidized in the presence of alkali at about 130°C.

The hydro peroxide formed is decomposed in a stirred vessel by addition of dilute sulphuric acid.

The mixture is passed to separator and the resulting organic layer is fractioned.

Other phenols

A number of other phenols obtained out of which cresol most important.

Conclusion

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