Production of 2, 2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane

Claim 1

A PROCESS FOR THE PRODUCTION JOF 2,2-BIS(4-HYDROXYPHENYL)PROPANE WHICH INCLUDES THE STEPS OF CONTACTING ACETONE WITH A STOICHIOMETRIC EXCESS OF PHENOL UNDER SUBSTANTIALLY ANHYDROUS CONDITIONS IN A REACTION ZONE MAINTAINED AT A TEMPERATURE OF FORM ABOUT 30* TO ABOUT 125*C., SAID REACTION ZONE COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY INSOLUBLE CATION EXCHANGING RESIN, MAINTAINING AT LEAST A PART OF SAID ACETONE AND SAID PHENOL IN SAID REACTION ZONE IN THE LIQUID PHASE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME BETWEEN THAT SUFFICIENT TO INITIATE INTERREACTION OF SAID ACETONE WITH SAID PHENOL AND THAT SUFFICIENT TO SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE SAID INTERRACTION, THEREBY FORMING AN INCOMPLETELY REACTED REACTION MIXTURE CONTAINING 2,2-BIS(4-HYDROXYPHENYL)PROPANE, AN ADDUCT OF 2,2-BIS(4-HYDROXYPHENYL)PROPANE AND PHENOL, UNREACTED ACETONE AND UNREACTED PHENOL, REACTION BY-PRODUCTS, AND WATER, WITHDRAWING SAID INCOMPLETELY REACTED REACTION MIXTURE FROM SAID REACTION ZONE, SEPARATING THE WITHDRAWN MIXTURE INTO AN OVERHEAD STREAM COMPRISING ACETONE, WATER AND POHENOL AND A BOTTOMS STREAMS COMPRISING 2,2-BIS(HYDROXYPHENYL)PROPANE, AN ADDUCT OF 2,2-BIS(4-HYDROXYYPHENYL)PROPANE AND PHENOL, PHENOL AND REACTION BY-PRODUCTS; DEHYDRATING SAID OVERHEAD STREAM, RECYCLING SUBSTANTIALLY ANHYDROUS PHENOL AND ACETONE TO SAID REACTION ZONE; SEPARATING FROM THE BOTTOMS STREAM THE ADDUCT OF 2,2-BIS(4-HYDROXYPHENYL)PROPANE AND PHENOL, RECYCLING THE REMAINDER OF THE BOTTOMS STREAM TO SAID REACTION ZONE, SEPARATING THE 2,2-BIS(4HYDROXPHENYL)PROPANE FROM THE ADDUCT THEREOF WITH PHENOL, AND RECYCLING THE PHENOL OF THE ADDUCT.