Dehydrogenation of an alkyl aromatic compound and catalyst regeneration in a fluidized bed reactor

Abstract From the Canadian patent

A process of preparing a vinyl aromatic compound such as styrene. The process , involves fluidizing a dehydrogenation catalyst in a single shell fluidized bed reactor containing a reaction zone and a regeneration zone; contacting an alkyl aromatic compound, such as ethylbenzene with the dehydrogenation , catalyst in the dehydrogenation zone so as to produce the vinyl aromatic compound, such as styrene; and regenerating the catalyst in situ by contacting steam with the deactivated catalyst in the regeneration zone. A fluidized bed reactor is described, characterized by a freeboard zone a reaction zone, and , a catalyst regeneration zone all within a single shell.