Patent ID: 8507729

Claim:
A method for continuously preparing cyclohexanone from phenol making use of a catalyst comprising at least one catalytically active metal selected from platinum and palladium comprising the steps of: a) hydrogenating phenol to form a product stream comprising cyclohexanone and unreacted phenol; b) separating at least part of the product stream, or at least part of the product stream from which one or more components having a lower boiling point than cyclohexanone have been removed, into a first fraction comprising cyclohexanone and a second fraction comprising phenol and cyclohexanol, using distillation; c) separating the second fraction into a third fraction, rich in cyclohexanol, and a fourth fraction, rich in phenol, using distillation; d) subjecting at least part of the fourth fraction to a further distillation step, thereby forming a fifth fraction and a sixth fraction, wherein the fifth fraction is enriched in phenol compared to the sixth fraction, and wherein the sixth fraction comprises side-products having a higher boiling point than phenol, and phenol; and e) continuously or intermittently separating at least part of the sixth fraction to yet a further distillation step, thereby forming a seventh fraction and an eight fraction, wherein the seventh fraction is enriched in phenol compared to the eight fraction, and wherein the eight fraction comprises side-products having a higher boiling point than phenol.