US Patent 8003827 Method for producing phenol and acetone

A method for producing phenol and acetone in a multi-stage process at an elevated temperature from a cumene hydroperoxide mixture comprising cumene, comprises the steps of:a) distilling an amount of cumene from the cumene hydroperoxide mixture until the cumene mass % is 0 to 7 mass % relative to the total mass of the cumene hydroperoxide mixture,b) reacting the cumene hydroperoxide mixture with an acid catalyst form to a second mixture comprising phenol, acetone and dicumyl peroxide in a first stage, andc) decomposing the second mixture in a second stage to produce phenol and acetone,