Patent ID: 7642384

Claim:
Process for preparing cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol, said process comprising (a) neutralising acids and/or carbon dioxide present in an organic solution further comprising cyclohexylhydroperoxide by mixing the organic solution with a first aqueous base solution at a temperature of from 55 to 70° C. to form a first mixture comprising a first aqueous phase with an adjusted pH of from 8.5 to 13 and a first organic phase, (b) at least partially separating the first aqueous phase from the first mixture resulting in a remaining mixture comprising first organic phase, (c) decomposing cyclohexylhydroperoxide present in the remaining mixture by mixing the remaining mixture with a second aqueous base solution at a temperature of from 60 to 110° C. to form a second mixture comprising a second aqueous phase and a second organic phase comprising cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol, (d) separating the second aqueous phase from the second organic phase at a temperature higher than 80° C.