High-performance, cost-effective process solutions for meeting ethylbenzene and styrene demand


Ethylbenzene (EB) is a precursor of styrene monomer (SM), which is the basic building block for the production of the polystyrene and other styrenic resins used in consumer goods.
The Lummus/UOP EBOne™ process is a liquid-phase alkylation process that uses a proprietary, zeolite-based catalyst system developed and manufactured by UOP to produce ethylbenzene. New developments in our aromatics catalysts can translate to exceptional run lengths of three to five years, eliminating the need for frequent regenerations or reloads and also significantly reduce utility requirements.
To utilize EB as a feedstock for SM production, UOP offers the Lummus/UOP Classic SM process. The process is a deep-vacuum, dehydrogenation technology cited for its efficient heat integration and exceptional mechanical integrity. The unique dehydrogenation reactor system is designed to operate at a cost-effective, minimal operating pressure and to achieve the highest SM selectivity at high conversion rates. The end result is high purity SM, lower feed consumption, lower operating costs and high product yields.
To eliminate costly interstage reheating and reduce expensive superheated steam requirements, you can employ the Lummus/UOP Smart SM™ process. The process enables 30 to 50 percent capacity expansions at 25 percent lower capital cost than a conventional revamp. It uses specially designed reactors to complete the oxidation and dehydrogenation reactions, where oxidation is accomplished using UOP’s OC series of highly selective catalysts. For existing SM producers, revamping to the Smart SM process is typically the most cost-effective route to increased capacity.
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