Styrene production from ethylbenzene on platinum in a zirconia electrochemical reactor

Journal Article · Wed Oct 31 23:00:00 EST 1984 · J. Electrochem. Soc.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2115356· OSTI ID:5898650

Michaels, J N; Vayenas, C G

The vapor-phase electrochemical oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene on platinum-paste electrodes was studied at 575/sup 0/-600/sup 0/C in a stabilized-zirconia electrochemical reactor. Styrene and carbon dioxide were the major products. The dehydrogenation rate increased markedly with anodic current, reaching an ethylbenzeneconcentration-dependent asymptote at large current densities. The rate of deep oxidation of ethylbenzene to CO and CO/sub 2/ was linear in current density. Both rates were strongly inhibited by gas-phase hydrogen. These results can be rationalized by an electrode mechanism in which the dominant charge-transfer reaction is exchange between chemisorbed oxygen on the electrode and oxygen ions in the electrolyte lattice. Styrene and CO/sub 2/ were formed primarily by catalytic reactions of ethylbenzene and neutral dissociatively adsorbed oxygen, although at least one other parallel chargetransfer reaction was evident. The current dependence of the dehydrogenation rate results from an oxidative dehydrogenation reaction on the surface whose rate is sensitive to the amount of oxygen on the electrode surface. A simple kinetic model is presented which quantitatively describes these experimental observations.

• Research Organization: Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts, Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts
• OSTI ID: 5898650
• Journal Information: J. Electrochem. Soc.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Electrochem. Soc.; (United States) Vol. 131:11; ISSN JESOA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
BENZENE
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
CHEMISORPTION
CHEMISTRY
CURRENT DENSITY
DEHYDROGENATION
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
ELECTRODES
ELECTROLYTES
ELEMENTS
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROCARBONS
KINETICS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METALS
MINERALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLATINUM
PLATINUM METALS
PRODUCTION
REACTION KINETICS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SILICATE MINERALS
SILICATES
SILICON COMPOUNDS
SORPTION
STYRENE
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
ZIRCON
ZIRCONIUM COMPOUNDS
ZIRCONIUM SILICATES