Styrene (the polystyrene monomer) is manufactured industrially via ____________________?
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Answer: A. Catalytic dehydrogenation of ethyl benzene
Explanation
Industrial styrene production proceeds primarily through the catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene at high temperatures. Metal oxide catalysts facilitate the removal of hydrogen atoms from ethylbenzene to form the styrene monomer. This catalytic process operates continuously in large reactors to supply global polystyrene manufacturing demands. Styrene is an important organic monomer used extensively in the production of various plastics and synthetic rubbers. Ethylbenzene itself is manufactured beforehand through the alkylation of benzene using ethylene feedstock inputs. High reaction temperatures and reduced pressures drive the endothermic dehydrogenation reaction toward completion.
Polystyrene plastics manufactured from styrene monomers are ubiquitous in modern packaging and insulation materials. Efficient catalyst regeneration methods help maintain high conversion rates and extend industrial reactor operating cycles. Strict environmental controls capture and manage byproduct gases generated during high temperature petrochemical processing. Dehydrating ethyl alcohol followed by hydrogenation represents an obsolete or alternative route not used for styrene. Reacting ethylene oxide with acetaldehyde produces different oxygenated organic compounds rather than hydrocarbon styrene. Fermentation of starch produces ethanol rather than the aromatic hydrocarbon monomer required for polystyrene.
- Subject
- Engineering
- Category
- Chemical Engineering
- Topic
- —
- Difficulty
- medium
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