| abstract |
PURPOSE: To prepare a polyhydric phenol, continuously in high selectivity with suppressing formation of the higher polyhydroxyl compounds, by hydroxylating a phenol with the required amount of a peroxide introduced dividedly to two or more sites of the reaction zone. n CONSTITUTION: In the production of a polyhydric phenol by direct oxidation of a phenol with a peroxide, the required amount of the peroxide is dividedly added to the phenol fed into the reaction zone, at two or more sites of the reaction zone under the condition that the ratio of the amount of the phenol to that of the peroxide is higher than the ratio of the whole amount of the peroxide to that of the phenol. By this process, the formation of the higher polyhydroxyl compounds is suppressed and the polyhydric phenol is obtained in an increased selectivity. The molar ratio of the whole peroxide to the whole phenol is ≤0.3, preferably 0.05W0.08 and the concentration of the peroxide in the reaction materials is ≤5wt%, preferably ≤0.5wt%. n COPYRIGHT: (C)1980,JPO&Japio |