PREPARATION OF STYRENE:-

Styrene is prepared by DEHYDROGINATION of

ETHYL BENZENE.

CATALYST:-
Zinc Oxide catalyst.

TEMPERATURE:-
At 600 C

MAIN REACTION:-
(ZnO)
C6H5C2H5 ----------- > C6H5CH = CH2 + H2
600oC
SIDE REACTIONS OCCUR:-

There Are 2 Main Side Reactions;

* The cracking of ETHYL BENZENE to give

BENZENE,
TOULENE, METHANE, ETHANE etc.

* Cracking of HYDROCARBONS to CARBONS

which
then react with STEAM & form OXIDES OF
CARBON.In addition of small quantities of
STIBENE
and DIPHENYL are also produced.
PROCESS OF DEHYDROGINATION OF ETHYL BENZENE:-

1. Steam and Ethyl benzene are preheated at 200-300 C

2. Vapour of Ethyl Benzene goes to a reactor.
3. Steam goes to a furnace where it is superheated at 720 C and then goes
to reator.
4. Dehydrogination of ETHYL BENZENE to STYRENE occurs in presence of
ZINC OXIDE catalyst.
5. After 1-2 hours gases leaving the reactor .
6. partially cooled in heat exchanger.
7. After cooling the reacting mixture goes to the GRAVITY SEPARATOR,
where 2 layers are formed.
8. Lower layer of WATER discarded.
9. Upper layer of HYDROCARBON goes for FRACTIONAL DISTILLATION.
10.Here STYRENE is collected as product.
11.Top product containing BENZENE and TOULENE.
12.Unreacted ETHYL BENZENE is recycled.
13.The bottom may have STYRENE POLYMER.