Packed bed reactors provide the best and most cost effective conditions for this iron
catalyzed heterogeneous vapor phase dehydrogenation. Pure ethyl-benzene is in supply to the plant at a temperature of 136°C and a pressure of 2.0 atm. Unconverted ethylbenzene in the effluent stream is to be completely recycled and combined with this fresh feed. Upon application of relevant design equations and observing equilibrium limitations to the system it can be determined that optimal conditions are achieved at high temperatures and low pressures, In order to maintain sufficient pressure in the reactor and prevent the deactivation of the catalyst at high temperatures, the reactor is to be operated isothermally at a temperature of 600°C and a pressure of 2 atm. Reactor effluent is to be introduced into a separation system consisting of a three-phase separator and three distillation columns in order to achieve material streams of the individual products at an acceptable purity