Abstract:
A cyclohexane oxidate containing from about 2% to about 12% cyclohexyl hydroperoxide is modified by the addition of tertiary butyl alcohol. A feedstock containing the cyclohexane oxidate and from about 13% to about 67% tertiary butyl alcohol is directed to a vacuum distillation zone. An azeotrope of tertiary butyl alcohol and cyclohexane is recovered as distillate in the vacuum distillation zone, providing a bottoms fraction containing cyclohexyl hydroperoxide in a greater concentration than in he feedstock. Such CHHP concentration in the bottoms may be in a range from about 10% to about 30%. Cyclohexyl hydroperoxide can decompose to form products including cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone and this or other decompositions occur more rapidly at the elevated temperatures of any distillation, thus hampering efforts at concentration of CHHP. By using TBA as an azeotroping agent, the CHHP is satisfactorily concentrated with an advantageously small amount of decomposition of CHHP.