Ethylbenzene Dehydrogenation to Styrene

Abstract

Being an essential monomer in polymer industries, styrene's commercial production has gained much attention. Around 90% of the world's styrene production is accomplished via ethylbenzene dehydrogenation using excess superheated steam as a heat carrier. The cost linked with the production of enormous heat energy for the commercial process underlines the importance of finding alternative and innovative approaches for styrene production. Therefore, this chapter discusses the possible alternative routes of styrene production from ethylbenzene. The chapter begins with chemistry, thermodynamics, and a brief history, i.e. how the commercial method is established, of ethylbenzene dehydrogenation. Afterward, the possible alternative routes to commercial styrene production are listed and discussed. A particular emphasis is given to the preparation of styrene from ethylbenzene dehydrogenation using CO 2 as a soft oxidant because this method consumes CO 2 (one of the greenhouse gases) and emerges as a green chemistry process. The detailed mechanism of ethylbenzene dehydrogenation into styrene using CO 2 is studied. Significantly, the catalysts and their key properties during the ethylbenzene dehydrogenation to styrene with CO 2 are elucidated. Membrane technology is also briefly described together with the chemical looping technology.