Citation: Weimin Yang, Zhendong Wang, Hongmin Sun, Bin Zhang. Advances in development and industrial applications of ethylbenzene processes[J]. Chinese Journal of Catalysis, ;2016, 37(1): 16-26. doi: 10.1016/S1872-2067(15)60965-2 shu

Advances in development and industrial applications of ethylbenzene processes

1.
Sinopec Shanghai Research Institute of Petrochemical Technology, Shanghai 201208, China

Corresponding author: Weimin Yang,
Received Date: 2 June 2015
Available Online: 25 August 2015

The benzene alkylation process for the production of ethylbenzene has undergone significant improvements during recent decades. Various environmentally benign zeolite-catalyzed ethylbenzene processes, including ZSM-5-zeolite-based vapor-phase ethylbenzene processes and Y-, β-, and MCM-22-zeolite-based liquid-phase processes, have been developed and commercialized. Pure ethylene, ethanol, and dilute ethylene have been used as ethylation agents. Here, the development and industrial application of alkylation catalysts and benzene ethylation techniques are summarized, and some other promising innovations are discussed. Recent advances in benzene alkylation over hierarchical zeolites with improved access to active sites and molecular transport are also covered. Zeolites with short diffusion lengths are promising candidates as better alkylation catalysts. The key point is how to obtain such materials easily and economically. The structure-activity relationships of commercial zeolites in these processes are discussed. Liquid-phase processes catalyzed by β and MCM-22 are more profitable than vapor-phase processes catalyzed by ZSM-5.
- Ethylbenzene,
- Alkylation,
- Transalkylation,
- ZSM-5 zeolite,
- MCM-22 zeolite,
- Beta zeolite,
- Y zeolite
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