Patent ID: 6888035

Claim:
A method for producing phenol comprising the steps of: (a) oxidizing cumene to form cumene hydroperoxide; (b) reacting cumene hydroperoxide by acid cleavage to form an acid cleavage effluent stream which comprises cumene, phenol, acetone, and various byproducts including alpha methylstyrene; (c) separating a phenol product; and (d) hydrogenating the acid cleavage effluent stream immediately downstream from said reaction step (b) in a hydrogenation reaction carried out under hydrogenation conditions suitable for simultaneously hydrogenating at least a part of the acetone and at least a part of the alpha methylstyrene byproducts of said acid cleavage effluent stream wherein said hydrogenation step (d) is carried out in the presence of a suitable catalyst wherein said catalyst is selected from the group consisting of Cu/Cr 2 O 3 , Ni/Na, Cu/Mn, and Rainey nickel.