Composite adsorbent for separation of ethylbenzene by adsorption distillation and application thereof

A composite adsorbent for separating ethylbenzene from C8 arene by adsorption distillation, comprising 1-50 mass % of a xylene adsorbent and 50-99 mass % of a carrier liquid,

• wherein the carrier liquid is selected from alkane, aryl-substituted alkane, decalin, alkyl-substituted decalin, and a combination of two thereof, wherein the alkane is C10-C26 alkane, and the aryl-substituted alkane is C13-C16 aryl-substituted alkane,
• wherein the xylene adsorbent, prior to being mixed with the carrier liquid, is a Y molecular sieve powder having supported thereon ions of Group IA metals, Group IIA metals, or both,
• wherein the Y molecular sieve powder has a grain size of 0.1 to 2 microns, and
• wherein the xylene adsorbent flows with the carrier liquid during operation.