Method for producing styrene and benzene
AssigneeMonsanto Company
InventorsRaymond A. Franz, Gary D. Madding, Tao P. Li
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Styrene and benzene are simultaneously produced by heating a mixture of toluene and ethylbenzene in a mole ratio of at least 1:1 to a temperature from about 400.degree. to 900.degree.C at moderate pressures for a period of time up to about 15 seconds, cooling the reaction mixture quickly and recovering the styrene and benzene therefrom. Yields of both products can be improved by the addition of modifying agents such as benzenethiol or by conducting the reaction in the presence of a chromium-containing catalyst supported on an inorganic material which can be promoted by a compound of calcium, magnesium, copper or zinc.
Claims10
A process for the simultaneous dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene and the hydrodealkylation of toluene which comprises passing a mixture consisting essentially of toluene and ethylbenzene in mole proportions from about 1:1 to about 15:1 through a reaction zone maintained at a pressure up to about 100 psia and heated to a temperature from about 400.degree. to about 900.degree.C at a rate such that the reactants are exposed to said temperature for a period up to about 15 seconds, quenching the reaction effluent and recovering the styrene and benzene therefrom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.