Continuous method of preparing novolaks and devices suitable for such methods

Claim 1

A CONTINUOUS PROCESS FOR PREPARING NOVOLAKS OF THE PHENOL-FORMALDEHYDE CONDENSATION PRODUCT TYPE COMPRISING THE STEPS OF CONTINUOUSLY INTRODUCING INTO A FIRST REACTION VESSEL A PHENOL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF MONOHYDROXYBENZENE, CRESOL, XYLENOL AND RESORCINOL, A CATALYST, AND FORMALDEHYDE IN AN AMOUNT LESS THAN THAT REQUIRED TO COMPLETELY REACT THE PHENOL TO PHENOLFORMALDEHYDE AND SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN A STATIONARY REACTION CONDITION IN SAID FIRST VESSEL, CONTINUOUSLY WITHDRAWING FROM THE FIRST REACTION VESSEL A STREAM EQUAL IN VOLUME TO THE STREAMS OF THE REACTION COMPONENTS ENTERING THE FIRST REACTION VESSEL, CONTINUOUSLY INTRODUCING INTO A SECOND REACTION VESSEL THE STREAM BEING WITHDRAWN FROM THE FIRST REACTION VESSEL, INTRODUCING A STREAM OF FORMALDEHYDE INTO SAID SECOND VESSEL IN AN AMOUNT SUFFICIENT TO CONTINUE THE REACTION OF THE PHENOL WITHOUT GELATINIZING THE REACTION MIXTURE, AND SUCCESSIVELY REPEATING THE STEPS OF CONTINUOUSLY INTRODUCING REACTION MIXTURE, ADDING A QUANTITY OF FORMALDEHYDE TO THE REACTION MIXTURE TO CONTINUE THE REACTION WITHOUT GELATINIZATION AND WITHDRAWING AN AMOUNT EQUAL IN VOLUME TO THAT INTRODUCED IN SUCCEEDING REACTION VESSELS UNTIL THE REACTION IS COMPLETED.