Production of Styrene from Ethylbenzene

Trenton Miller*, Fernando Lima and Brent Bishop, Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26505

Field (Broad Category): Chemical Engineering (Physical Sciences & Engineering) 

Student’s Major: Chemical Engineering 

Styrene is a monomer used in the production of Styrofoam which takes many different forms in consumer products and thus makes it a valuable product. The objective of this work is to minimize the equivalent annual operating cost (EAOC) for the process. This in turn will provide a more cost efficient and profitable process. The equipment design and operating conditions will be considered to minimize the EAOC of the process. The process is modeled using the CHEMCAD simulation software, a process simulation platform that is capable of designing and simulating the equipment required. Once a base case is established, the EAOC of the process will be optimized using tools in Microsoft Excel. DELETE the portion after this. System will not allow for saving with too few words. This process will have to be optimized once a base case is established, but CHEMCAD is not a suitable platform for optimization and Microsoft Excel will be used instead. Roughly 120 kmol/h of styrene product is expected. 

Funding: 

Program/mechanism supporting research/creative efforts: WVU's Research Apprenticeship Program (RAP) & accompanying HONR 297-level course