1. Styrene Supply Chain Overview
Styrene is an important commodity chemical with a global production of 25 million metric tons in
2010[1] and a global market value at $32.5 billion[1]. The expected growth of styrene is 3.6% per year[1]
.
Styrene is the precursor to polystyrene, which is used in plastics, protective coatings, polyesters, resins,
and chemical intermediates[1]
.
The following study will incorporate an economic analysis and detailed structure of a conceptual
styrene process plant. The proposed plant laid out in this design study will use ethylbenzene from an
upstream process to produce 100 MM kg styrene per year. This design study includes the economic
analysis up to Level 4 in Douglas’s Hierarchy of Chemical Process Design[2]