2025 AIChE Annual Meeting

(589h) Process Intensification and Miniaturization of Cumene Oxidation

Authors

Guangsheng Luo, Tsinghua University
The cumene oxidation process is a crucial step in the synthesis of bulk chemicals. The existing synthesis process has the drawbacks of large equipment volume and high reaction hazard. Therefore, it is of great significance to carry out process intensification. In this study, the cumene oxidation reaction was systematically investigated first. The key influence of the phenol concentration on the reaction was clarified, and the idea of reaction intensification was proposed. The existing reactors have large bubble sizes and a wide distribution, which requires a relatively high height to compensate. To address this issue, a microbubble countercurrent bubble column reactor was designed and constructed to intensify the process flow from the perspective of the reactor. Finally, a miniaturized cumene oxidation process based on this reactor was achieved, and a more efficient, green, and safe new process was successfully developed.