The electrons of vinyl group are conjugated with benzene ring, insoluble in water, soluble in ethanol and ether, and gradually polymerized and oxidized when exposed to air. It is an important monomer of synthetic resin, ion exchange resin and synthetic rubber in industry.
Dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene is a reversible endothermic and molecular-increasing reaction, and heating and decompression are beneficial to the reaction to produce styrene. The method used in industry is to mix a lot of high temperature steam into the feed to reduce the partial pressure of hydrocarbons.
And provides part of the heat required by the reaction. The molar ratio of steam to hydrocarbon (called water ratio) varies with different reactor types, ranging from 6 to 14.
Extended data:
Styrene is also produced commercially by POSM method, and styrene and propylene oxide are obtained from ethylbenzene and propylene. In this production line, ethylbenzene is oxidized by oxygen to produce ethylbenzene peroxide.
Then propylene was oxidized with peroxide to obtain 1- phenylethanol and propylene oxide. Finally, styrene can be obtained after dehydration of 1- phenylethanol.
The method is characterized in that 0.4t propylene oxide can be co-produced while producing one ton of styrene. It does not need the high temperature of dehydrogenation method, and can avoid the pollution problem of propylene oxide production by chlorohydrin method.
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