An improved process for the catalytic dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons

摘要

In a process for producing vinyl monomers by catalytic dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons in the presence of steam and a self-regenerative metal oxide-containing catalyst, an electric current is passed through at least part of the catalyst so that the catalyst becomes a resistance heating element and provides part of the heat required to maintain the desired catalyst temperature. Suitable catalysts comprise a major amount of ferric oxide, zinc oxide, magnesium oxide, chromium oxide, or a mixture thereof, together with a minor amount of potassium oxide and/or carbonate. The following dehydrogenations are mentioned:- (a) Ethylbenzene to styrene (b) Ethyltoluene to vinyltoluene (c) Diethylbenzene to divinylbenzene (d) Cumene to a -methylstyrene (e) Diisopropylbenzene to di(a -methylvinyl)-benzene (f) Butene-1 or -2 to butadiene (g) 2-Methyl-butene-2 to isoprene.