초록 ▼

Bio-derived bisphenol A is made by combining bio-derived phenol and/or bio-derived acetone in the presence of a catalyst, The phenol or the acetone or both contain at least 0.5%, for example at least 1 weight % of bio-derived impurities. In the case of bio-derived phenol, these impurities may includ

Bio-derived bisphenol A is made by combining bio-derived phenol and/or bio-derived acetone in the presence of a catalyst, The phenol or the acetone or both contain at least 0.5%, for example at least 1 weight % of bio-derived impurities. In the case of bio-derived phenol, these impurities may include one or more of 2-methylbenzofuran, 2-methoxyphenol, 2-methylphenol, 4-methylphenol (para-cresol) or 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol. In the case of acetone, the impurity may be ethanol, mesityl acetone and/or diacetone alcohol. This bio-derived BPA can be used in the production of polycarbonates with less fossil fuel-based carbon content.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for preparing bisphenol A comprising combining phenol and acetone in the presence of a catalyst to form bisphenol A, wherein the phenol, the acetone or both are derived at least in part from a biosource, and wherein the phenol and/or the acetone contains at least 0.5 weight % of bio-deri

1. A method for preparing bisphenol A comprising combining phenol and acetone in the presence of a catalyst to form bisphenol A, wherein the phenol, the acetone or both are derived at least in part from a biosource, and wherein the phenol and/or the acetone contains at least 0.5 weight % of bio-derived impurities. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the phenol contains one or more bio-derived impurities selected from the group consisting of 2-methylbenzofuran, 2-methoxyphenol, 2-methylphenol, 4-methylphenol (para-cresol) or 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol. 3. The method of claim 2, wherein the bisphenol A is crystallized as an adduct with phenol, further comprising the step of stripping phenol and one or more impurities from the bisphenol by desorption. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the impurity includes at least 500 ppm 2-Methoxy-4-methylphenol. 5. The method claim 3, wherein the impurity includes at least 500 ppm 4-methylphenol (para-cresol). 6. The method of claim 3, wherein the phenol contains less than 5 weight % guaiacol. 7. The method of claim 3, wherein the phenol contains less than 10 weight % cresols. 8. The method of claim 2, wherein the impurity includes at least 500 ppm 2-Methoxy-4-methylphenol. 9. The method claim 2, wherein the impurity includes at least 500 ppm 4-methylphenol (para-cresol). 10. The method of claim 2, wherein the phenol contains less than 5 weight % guaiacol. 11. The method of claim 2, wherein the phenol contains less than 10 weight % cresols. 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the bisphenol A is crystallized as an adduct with phenol, further comprising the step of stripping phenol and one or more impurities from the bisphenol by desorption. 13. The method of claim 1, wherein the phenol is bio-derived. 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the phenol contains at least 1 wt % bio-derived impurities. 15. The method of claim 1, wherein the acetone is bio-derived. 16. A method of making BPA-containing polycarbonate, comprising the steps of: (1) obtaining a feedstock of bisphenol A formed in claim 1(2) treating the feedstock obtained in step (1) under phase transfer, melt, solid state, or any other polymerization process conditions sufficient to form BPA-containing polycarbonate, thereby forming BPA-containing polycarbonate. 17. The method of claim 16, wherein at least 80 weight % of the BPA incorporated in the polymer is bioderived material. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the BPA-containing polycarbonate is a BPA homopolymer. 19. The method of claim 16, wherein at least 70% of the carbons in the polycarbonate are bioderived carbons. 20. A polycarbonate comprising BPA formed from bioderived phenol, wherein at least 70% of the carbons in the polycarbonate are bioderived carbons. 21. The polycarbonate of claim 20, wherein at least 90% of the carbons in the polycarbonate are bioderived carbons. 22. The polycarbonate of claim 20, wherein 100% of the carbons in the polycarbonate are bioderived carbons. 23. A polycarbonate comprising BPA formed from bioderived phenol, wherein at least 80 weight % of the BPA incorporated in the polymer is bioderived material. 24. The polycarbonate of claim 23, wherein 100 weight % of the BPA incorporated in the polymer is bioderived material. 25. A polycarbonate comprising BPA formed from bioderived acetone, wherein the amount of bio-derived carbons in the polycarbonate is at least 17 weight %. 26. A polycarbonate formed by reaction of a bisphenol reagent, where the bisphenol reagent consists of 99 weight % bisphenol A and 1 weight % guaiacol bisphenol A.