Abstract
Phenol is an intermediate compound which finds its important use as the raw material for manufacturing synthetic resins, synthetic fiber, agricultural chemicals, surface active agents, etc. and today the world's annual consumption of phenol has reached approximately 3 million tons.
This compound was first isolated from coal tar by F.F. Runge in 1834 and with the development of organic chemical industry in the latter half of 19 th century, the demand for phenol increased appreciably, which in turn prompted various studies to develop processes for synthetic phenol. The first of such processes was the Sulfonation Process which is still in use by some plants operating on a small scale.
During World Wars I and II, phenol was utilized in large quantities as the raw material for producing military explosives. It was during this period that the Sulfonation Process was further improved and such other processes as Chlorination Process and Raschig Process were first commercialized.
With the growth of petrochemical industry after World War II, Cumene process was developed, which now accounts for approximately 80% of the world's phenol production.
Thereafter, phenol syntheses were attempted by such methods as toluene oxidation via benzoic acid and oxidation of cyclohexane, which, however, have been subsequently abandoned.
Either of these methods is more or less complicated and requires considerable utility consumption. Although it is theoretically possible to obtain phenol by oxidation of benzene which is in fact considered the most simplest form of phenol synthesis, but none of these methods have been found economically justifiable. It is indeed hoped that a much more simple method be developed in view of the importance of phenol as an important basic chemical.
