|
cumene molecule can be visualized
as a straight-chain propyle ne group having
a benzene ring attached at the middle carbon
, C6H5CH(CH3)2 . It is a colourless liquid
,bp152.40C having a characteri
stic aromatic
odor . It is isomeric with n-propylbenzene
,ethyltoluene and trimethylbenzene.Thus
cumene is also named as 1-methylethyl benzene
or 2-phenyl-propane or isopropylbenzene.Cumene
(C9H12) is a substituted aromatic compound
in the benzene , toluene and ethylbenzene
series. Cumene is a clear liquid at ambient
conditions. High purity cumene is normally
manufactured from propylene and benzene
and is a minor constituent of most gasolines.
It is the principal chemical used in the
world wide production of phenol and its
co-product acetone. Many consumer or industrial
products such as plywood and composition
board banded with phenolic resins, nylon-6,
epoxy and polycarbonate resins and solvents,
have origins that can be traud to cumene.
Cumene processes were originally developed
between 1939 and 1945 to meet the demand
for high octane aviation gasoline during
world war-II. In 1989 about 95% of cumene
demand was as an intermediate for the production
of phenol and acetone. A small percentage
is used for the production of ∝-Methylstyrene.
|
|
