• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
• /
• v.17 no.3
• /
• pp.321-326
• /
• 2006

Thermal degradation of styrene dimer fraction (SDF, main compound: 47 wt% of 1,3-diphenylpropane), 5~15% of total products produced during decomposition of waste expanded polystyrene (WEPS) was investigated. Reaction condition of $360^{\circ}C$, and 152 kPa to 202 kPa was an optimum for high pressure degradation. Under this operating condition, the yield of oil was 73.8% and the selectivities to Ben, Tol, EB, SM, and AMS were 0.4, 30.9, 15.0, 19.6, and 4.2%, respectively. Non-catalytic fixed bed continuous degradation was conducted at reaction temperatures of $510{\sim}610^{\circ}C$ and contact time ranges of 2~24 min, where the yield was increased by increasing of reaction temperature and contact time. A $Cr_2O_3$ catalyst showed the highest activity and SM yield among acid, base, and redox catalysts. The conversion of 74.6% and the yield of Ben, Tol, EB, SM, and AMS were 0.4, 21.6, 9.7, 17.9, and 3.5%, respectively at $560^{\circ}C$ and contact time of 24 min. It is thought that styrene is converted to EB and other secondary products throughout the formation of diradicals of styrene.