KePe C\HsCH,CH, > CyHy + CoH a" Re ky KePe CgHsCH,CHy + Hy > CyHsCH, + CH, )* RPK, where E = ethylbenzene H = hydrogen S = styrene Side reactions 4, 5, and 6 have often been written as simple power-law nite expressions as shown below; or if one assumes these reactions to be very rapid, they can be combined with reactions 2 and 3 to yield the following, assuming that half of the ethylene is converted to methane (12. CH, + Hy > CH): (2) GJHJCH,CH, + 2H,0 + CO-+ 3H, + C)H,CH, (3) GHACH:CH, + 2H,0 > CO, + CH + 2H, + CH, ‘An industrial model for simulation and optimization of a styrene unit has been described with brief references to the kinetics." Since most of the reactions, at the high temperatures required for dehydrogenation, occur not oaly catalytically but to some degree thermally as free-radical reactions, the model formulated the thermal reactions as simple molecular power-law equations. Catalytic rates for the same apparent overall reactions were written in forms similar to LHHW equations. Power-Law ‘Typical power-law forms have also been used! 1 = kl ~ PPK) = kPy 5 ek PPy =k PMPy fk Pha 1 = ksPcoPw Complexity Asis tue with so many commercial reactions, the reaction system is complex. Initially, the reactions are strongly controlled by intraparticle diffusion. But because of changes that occur in the catalyst, including K,O migration, the process gradually becomes reaction controlled while catalyst activity is declining. To base any practical model on intrinsic kinetics and effectiveness factors seems futile. Time would be better spent on obtaining a useful empirical expression for activity as a function of time-on-stream and operating temperature history. The actual activity decline is related directly to accumulated coke and the loss of active components such as K,O by agglomeration.” 8.2 STYRENE DERIVATIVES FROM OTHER ALKYL AROMATICS Several styrene derivatives are commercially produced by dehydrogenation over iron oxide cata- lysts, bat in mach smaller quantities. These products include the vinyltoluene isomers and divinyl- benzene. These compounds are more reactive than styrene and thus cause more side reaction ‘products than styrene in the dehydrogenation reaction.”