Carbonaceous Deposits as Catalysts for Oxydehydrogenation of Alkylbenzenes

Abstract
The main industrial methods for the production of styrene and α-methylstyrene are the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene and isopropylbenzene using mixed oxide catalysts: These reactions are endothermic and reversible, they take place at high temperatures (853–923 K), and their reversibility thermodynamically limits the yields of the products. Displacement of the equilibrium toward the formation of the vinylbenzenes is generally achieved by lowering the partial pressure of the reacting alkylbenzenes by diluting them in steam, heated to 973 K.