HYDRODEALKYLATION OF 2-ETHYLNAPHTHALENE - STUDY OF REACTION-PRODUCTS AND KINETICS

The thermal hydrodealkylation of 2-ethylnaphthalene (BEN) has been studied in a tubular flow reactor, at effective reaction temperatures in the range from 570 to 710 °C. Total pressure ranged from 2.9 to 44.6 atm, and H2/hydrocarbon molar ratio in the feed was varied from 3 to 10. Main products were naphthalene (N), 2-methylnaphthalene (BMN) and 2-vinylnaphthalene. The latter is the product of a dehydrogenation which is strongly depressed at pressures larger than 20 atm. Kinetic results in the high-pressure region have been interpreted according to a scheme of three parallel-consecutive reactions (BEN —« ■BMN; BMN —► N; BEN —∗■ N) assuming rate equations of the form r = kCaommCH2″. Arrhenius parameters and partial reaction orders were obtained that reproduce experimental molar conversions ±15% on the average. © 1979, American Chemical Society. All rights reserved.