DEEP CATALYTIC-OXIDATION KINETICS OF BENZENE-ETHENYLBENZENE MIXTURES

Deep catalytic-oxidation over a commercial platinum catalyst of benzene, ethenylbenzene (styrene) and their mixtures is investigated. Benzene and ethenylbenzene reaction rates are independent of the hydrocarbon partial pressure over a wide concentration range. Strong inhibition effects are observed when binary mixtures are oxidized. Competitive reactions data show that two different kinetic mechanisms must be supposed for the two compounds: benzene reacts from gas phase with adsorbed oxygen, while ethenylbenzene is adsorbed and reacts mainly with molecular oxygen. The kinetic parameters are evaluated from single-compound oxidation experiments. The proposed kinetic models proved to predict mixture reaction rates satisfactorily.