Patent ID: 7488853

Claim:
A process for producing a phenol, which comprises the following steps of: (1) oxidizing an alkylbenzene with an oxygen-containing gas to obtain an oxidation reaction mixture containing a hydroperoxide; (2) subjecting the oxidation reaction mixture to extraction operation with an alkaline aqueous solution to obtain an extract containing the hydroperoxide; (3) subjecting the extract obtained in the step (2) to extraction operation with an organic solvent to obtain an extract containing the hydroperoxide; (4) subjecting the extract obtained in the step (3) to water washing to obtain an oil layer containing the hydroperoxide, in which a content of the alkali has been reduced; and (5) subjecting the hydroperoxide contained in the oil layer obtained in the water washing step (4) to acidolysis to obtain a phenol, wherein a concentration of the hydroperoxide to be subjected to the water washing in the step (4), is 20% by weight or less.