Patent ID: 6943270

Claim:
A method for increasing selectivity and productivity of a cumene process of phenol and acetone production comprising the steps of: (a) treating, in a conversion reactor, organic cumene oxidation products containing from about 16 wt% to about 94 wt% cumene hydroperoxide, cumene, and by-products comprising at least dimethylbenzene alcohol and aldehydes, with the use of a hydrogen peroxide in a mutually insoluble organic and aqueous phase system of an aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution and an organic solution of said cumene oxidation products; and (b) mixing said organic phase cumene oxidation products with the aqueous phase hydrogen peroxide solution by use of a mixing device disposed within said conversion reactor, at a temperature of about 40° C. to about 75° C., such that dimethylbenzene alcohol and said aldehydes are subject to a heterophase oxidation reaction with hydrogen peroxide so that dimethylbenzene alcohol is oxidized into cumene hydroperoxide and said aldehydes are oxidized into corresponding organic acids.