Patent ID: 7619122

Claim:
Process for preparing cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol which comprises: (a) subjecting an organic solution which comprises acids, carbon dioxide and cyclohexylhydroperoxide to a neutralisation step so as to neutralise the acids and/or carbon dioxide therein by mixing the organic solution with a first aqueous base solution in the absence of an added alkali feed to form a first mixture comprising a first aqueous phase and a first organic phase, (b) separating the first aqueous phase from the first organic phase, (c) discharging the first aqueous phase, (d) decomposing cyclohexylhydroperoxide present in the first organic phase by mixing the first organic phase with a second aqueous base solution to form a second mixture comprising a second aqueous phase and a second organic phase comprising cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol, (e) separating the second aqueous phase from the second organic phase, (f) feeding at least a portion of the separated second aqueous phase to the neutralising step (a), wherein the neutralising step (a) comprises feeding a portion of the first aqueous phase to the decomposing step (d) in an amount that controls the pH of the first aqueous phase to higher than 8.5 as measured at 25° C.