8/16/2019 Phenol TechSheet 2014 FINAL

1/204M102013H_v2

Overview  Versalis and CB&I offer the Versalis/CB&I technologyfor the production of phenol from cumene. Tistechnology incorporates many decades of operatingexperience by Versalis and CB&I’s design expertise,as well as proven and superior technology features.

 ogether, they assure the reliabil ity and excellentperformance of the phenol plant.

 Te Versalis/CB&I process produces the highestquality phenol (99.99 wt%), suitable for polycarbonateand resin production. It can also co-produce highquality, pharmaceutical grade acetone containing lessthan 50 ppm methanol.

 Te process uti lizes advanced technology for theair oxidation of cumene followed by acid-catalyzed

decomposition to phenol and acetone. Tis state-of-the-art technology minimizes heavy by-productformation and maximizes conversion, which improvesoverall yield while providing smooth, reliable,and safe operation. Te process features flexible,integrated waste water and vent gas treatment systems,allowing the plant to conform to local environmentalregulations.

 Te Versalis/CB&I process utilizes the latest controlsystems and operates smoothly, at high yields andlow cost, with flexibility and minimal effect on theenvironment. Maximum heat integration is provided tominimize energy input.

 AdvantagesProcess Features Process Benefits

 Advanced oxidation technology Combines the low cost and safety of wet oxidation

 with the high yield of dry oxidation • Enhancesselectivity and minimizes reactor volume

Minimized air consumption and turbo-expander option Lowers electric power consumption

Advanced cleavage technology that incorporates thelatest process control and automated shutdown systems

Provides superior selectivity and safety 

Heat interchange systems Conserves and reuses heat, lowering energy consumption

Vent gas treatment and wastewater treatment Low environmental impact

Highest purity phenol with low carbonyl content andhigh sulfuric acid discoloration index • Acetone has longpermanganate time and low water and benzene content

Highest quality products

Performance

CharacteristicsPhenol Product Quality Acetone Product Quality

Purity (dry basis) 99.99 wt.%

 otal GC impurities*

8/16/2019 Phenol TechSheet 2014 FINAL

2/204M102013H_v2

www.CBI.comOnly employees, agents, or representatives authorized under and pursuant to written agreement

with CB&I are authorized to distribute this brochure to an actual or potential client of CB&I.©Copyright 2014 by Chicago Bridge & Iron Company. All rights reserved.

Block Flow

Diagram

Process

Description

Process

Chemistry 

 Spent Air   Acid  Caustic 

Oxidation Decomposition Distillation

 Cumene - AMS

 Cumene

 Air 

 Hydrocarbon

 AcetoneProduct 

 Phenol Product 

Recovered Cumene

  ®

AMS

Recovery

Acetone

Fractionation

Phenol

Extraction

CleavageCumene

StrippingOxidation   Neutralization   Dephenolation  Water 

Oxidation

+C6H5CH (CH3)2

Cumene

Cleavage

O2

Oxygen

C6H

5 (CH

3)

2COOH

Cumene Hydroperoxide

+   (CH3)

2CO

Acetone

C6H

5 (CH

3)

2COOH

Cumene Hydroperoxide

C6H

5OH

Phenol

Phenol and acetone are produced from cumene in twosteps: liquid phase oxidation of cumene to cumene

hydroperoxide (CHP), followed by acid-catalyzeddecomposition (cleavage) of CHP to phenol andacetone. Phenol, acetone, unconverted cumene, andby-products are then distilled in a series of distillationtowers to recover high purity phenol and acetoneproducts and to recover cumene for recycle.

Fresh and recycle cumene are fed to a series of oxidizers where the cumene contacts air and is converted toCHP. Te oxidate is concentrated in a multi-stagecumene stripping system. Concentrated CHP flowsdirectly to the cleavage unit where it is decomposedunder precisely controlled conditions that areoptimized to permit CHP decomposition withoutproducing heavy by-products.

Cleavage effluent is neutralized before being sent tothe first column of the acetone/phenol fractionationsection to separate acetone, cumene, and light by-products from phenol and heavier. Te distillate goesto a second column to produce acetone. Te bottomsof this column — a mixture of mainly cumene and by-product alpha-methylstyrene (AMS) formed during

cleavage — is sent to the AMS recovery system wherethe AMS is hydrogenated to cumene and the resultant

cumene stream is recycled back to oxidation. Te bottoms from the first fractionation column —containing phenol, some cumene and AMS, and allthe heavy by-products — is fractionated under vacuumto produce a crude phenol distillate, which furtherundergoes extractive distillation and stripping tomake product phenol. Te phenol distillation bottomscontains all of the heavy by-products, acetophenone,and some phenol and may be used as fuel.

 All acetone- and phenol-containing vents arecollected and chilled. Recovered phenol and acetoneare recycled into the process, thus minimizing losses

 while at the same time reducing air emissions. After

treatment, the vent gas can be discharged directlyto atmosphere. All aqueous wastes and drains arecollected in closed systems and then treated viaextraction to remove phenol, which is recycled to theprocess. Te resulting wastewater is of sufficientlyhigh quality to be sent directly to an off-site bio-oxidation unit for final treatment before discharge.