Phenol

Abstract

Phenol (hydroxybenzene) is a commercially important derivative of benzene. It is the primary feedstock for the production of epoxy resins and polycarbonates, phenolic resins and molding compounds, caprolactam, aniline, and other chemical derivatives. More than 95% of the phenol consumed is produced by the cumene peroxidation process. Phenol is a white, crystalline mass at room temperature. Its freezing point is 40.91°C. It is a protoplasmic poison that is corrosive to living tissue and is readily absorbed through the skin. Phenol’s consumption growth rate is based primarily on its use in engineering plastics such as bisphenol A, polycarbonates, polyetherimide and poly(phenylene oxide), and epoxy resins for the electronics industry. Due to the nature of its end markets, phenol consumption is highly cyclic. Future production processes for phenol will be affected by the disparity in growth rate between phenol and its coproduct, acetone.

Au–Pd alloy nanoparticles supported on layered double hydroxide for heterogeneously catalyzed aerobic oxidative dehydrogenation of cyclohexanols and cyclohexanones to phenols

“… 1 Annually, millions of tons of phenol are produced mainly by the well-established three-step cumene process starting from benzene ( Scheme 1 ). 2 However, this traditional cumene process suffers from several drawbacks, including the formation of acetone co-product and the involvement of an explosive cumene hydroperoxide intermediate. 2 Although the current cumene process is the most competitive and widely employed commercial process for phenol, the development of new processes that avoid these problems is highly desirable.…”

“… 2 However, this traditional cumene process suffers from several drawbacks, including the formation of acetone co-product and the involvement of an explosive cumene hydroperoxide intermediate. 2 Although the current cumene process is the most competitive and widely employed commercial process for phenol, the development of new processes that avoid these problems is highly desirable. In this context, processes for the one-step direct oxygenation of benzene to phenol using various oxidants such as H 2 O 2 , N 2 O, and O 2 have attracted considerable attention as promising alternatives for producing phenols.…”

A DFT Study of Direct Oxidation of Benzene to Phenol by N2O over [Fe(μ-O)Fe]2+ Complexes in ZSM-5 Zeolite

“…Direct oxidation of benzene is more sustainable and a much more attractive alternative for the production of phenol than the current cumene process . High-silica ZSM-5 zeolites modified with iron (Fe-ZSM-5) are able to catalyze a highly selective direct benzene oxidation to phenol by N 2 O. − Numerous experimental − and theoretical − studies indicate that the unique oxidation properties of Fe-ZSM-5 catalysts are related to the ability of extra framework iron species stabilized in the zeolite matrix to promote stoichiometric N 2 O decomposition (eq ) resulting in the formation of highly reactive extra framework oxygen species (α-oxygen).…”

A Density Functional Theory Study of Direct Oxidation of Benzene to Phenol by N2O on a [FeO]1+-ZSM-5 Cluster

“…Phenol is used for the production of bisphenol, phenolic resins, caprolactam, aniline, and alkylphenols. Presently, it is produced mainly by the cumene process, which has an explosive intermediate . Direct oxidation of benzene to phenol is an alternative and environmentally friendly process.…”