Batch phenol removal from methyl isobutyl ketone by liquid–liquid extraction with chemical reaction

The aim of this work was to investigate in a bench-scale mixed vessel the influence of temperature, NaOH concentration in the extracting aqueous phase and rotational speed on the batch removal of phenol from a 14.4% solution in methyl isobutyl ketone. To this purpose, temperature was varied in the range 10–40 °C, the concentration of NaOH between 5.5 and 6.5% and the rotational speed from 400 to 800 rpm. The average residual concentration of phenol in the organic phase was as less as 0.40–1.0%, corresponding to removal efficiencies of 94.0–97.6%, respectively.