Patent ID: 7858830
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: C07C

Abstract:
1. A process for recovering phenol from a BPA waste stream, comprising: (a) feeding a BPA waste stream comprising phenol moiety-containing aromatic compounds to a distillation column; (b) distilling said waste stream in said distillation column to form a phenol-containing distillate product stream and a column bottoms stream; (c) feeding a first portion of said bottoms stream to a low temperature utility, heating said first portion to a first temperature and recycling said heated first portion to the distillation column; (d) feeding a second portion of said column bottoms stream to a high temperature utility and heating said second portion to a cracking temperature which is higher than said first temperature; (e) feeding said heated second portion to a catalytic cracking vessel; and (f) cracking and flashing said second portion to form a phenol-rich effluent stream and a phenol-poor residue stream.