Decoloration of bisphenol-A recycle stream with cation exchange resin

Claim 1

A process for removing color bodies from 4,4'-bisphenol-A process recycle stream wherein a stoichiometric excess of phenol is reacted with acetone in a reaction mixture containing an acid catalyst to produce a product mixture containing phenol and 4,4'-bisphenol-A, wherein said product mixture is separated into a 4,4'-bisphenol-A/phenol adduct and a mother liquor recycle stream, wherein said mother liquor recycle stream is recycled to said reaction mixture, wherein at least a portion of said mother liquor recycle stream is contacted with an adsorbent comprising a substantially insoluble acidic cationic exchange resin for a period of time and at a temperature sufficient to reduce the content of color bodies contained in said mother liquor recycle stream, said temperature being within the range of from about 40° to about 150° C., prior to recycling said mother liquor to said reaction mixture, wherein said absorbent is periodically washed with a phenol/water mixture to remove absorbed color bodies therefrom, and wherein the water content of said absorbent is substantially in equilibrium with the water content of said mother liquor recycle stream.