Abstract
The oxidation of cumene and following cleavage of cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) with sulfuric acid (Hock rearrangement) is still, by far, the dominant synthetic route to produce phenol. In 2020, the global phenol market reached a value of 23.3 billion US$ with a projected compound annual growth rate of 3.4% for 2020–2025. From ecological and economical viewpoints, the key step of this process is the cleavage of CHP. One sought-after way to likewise reduce energy consumption and waste production of the process is to substitute sulfuric acid with heterogeneous catalysts. Different types of zeolites, silicon-based clays, heteropoly acids, and ion exchange resins have been investigated and tested in various studies. For every type of these solid acid catalysts, several materials were found that show high yield and selectivity to phenol. In this mini-review, first a brief introduction and overview on the Hock process is given. Next, the mechanism, kinetics, and safety aspects are summarized and discussed. Following, the different types of heterogeneous catalysts and their performance as catalyst in the Hock process are illustrated. Finally, the different approaches to substitute sulfuric acid in the synthetic route to produce phenol are briefly concluded and a short outlook is given.
Highlights
The cumene cumene process process is is the the worldwide worldwide most most used used process process for for producing producing oxygenated oxygenatedThe hydrocarbons such as phenol and acetone from petrochemical feedstocks [1].Even hydrocarbons such as phenol and acetone from petrochemical feedstocks [1]
Beta and ZSM-5 zeolites and corresponding metallosilicates containing trivalent elements in the framework (B, Fe, Ga) are active at room-temperature and a reaction time of 5 min are enough for 100% conversion of cumene hydroperoxide (CHP) [51]
Si/Al = mole ratio of Si and Al; Y = yield; S = selectivity. In this mini-review, we examined the progress of the CHP decomposition to phenol and acetone in the attempt to substitute sulfuric acid with heterogeneous catalysts to enhance ecological and economic progress
Summary
The hydrocarbons such as phenol and acetone from petrochemical feedstocks [1]. Even hydrocarbons such as phenol and acetone from petrochemical feedstocks [1]. The decomposition named ‘Hock rearrangement’ is a Brønsted or Lewis acid catalyzed cleavage of a hydroperoxide, resulting in an alcohol and carbonyl compound, in case of the Catalysts 2022, 12, x. The decomposition named ‘Hock rearrangement’ is a Brønsted or Lewis acid catalyzed cleavage of a hydroperoxide, resulting in an alcohol and carbonyl compound, in case process of the from cumene from to [14]. The accumulation of CHP, either because of feeding to much CHP into the reaction system or as aftereffect of a deactivation of the catalyst, has to be prevented This has to be done by implementing various safeguards and controlling, e.g., high and low temperature interlocks after every heat exchanger, using smaller but more heat exchangers and utilizing intelligent online control systems [10,37]
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