Controlling the product selectivity in the conversion of methanol to the feedstock for phenol production.

This work investigated a novel nonpetroleum-based catalytic process of methanol to phenol. The idea was to convert methanol to produce a main product stream having a molar ratio of propylene to benzene/toluene of unity along with relatively higher-value products including -xylene and alkenes. Such a product mix would be ideal for the manufacturing of phenol.