5 methods of preparing benzene

5 Production Methods of Benzene cyclic hydrocarbon first isolated by Faraday a natural component of crude oil can be produced using different methods Pyrolysis gasoline, coal tar, Catalytic Reforming, Toluene hydrodealkylation, Toluene disproportionation

1. Article Written and published By www.worldofchemicals.com 5 Methods of Industrial Benzene Production

2. Benzene History, Chemical Properties Benzene   is considered as simplest form of arene and cyclic hydrocarbon. In 1825 benzene was first isolated by Faraday.  Benzene  is a natural component of crude oil, and is one of the most elementary petrochemicals. In 1845, Hoffmann isolated benzene from  coal-tar . Benzene  molecular formula is C 6 H 6  and  benzene structure  is having alternative double bonds with hexagon shape. Hydrogens present in the benzene can be replaced by some of the other functional groups. As a result number  benzene derivatives  will be generated.  Derivatives of benzene  are ethylbenzene , cumene .

3. Benzene structure Benzene ring structure  was deduced by  Friedrich August Kekule . The carbons present in  benzene ring  are arranged in a hexagon, and he suggested alternating double and single bonds between them. Each carbon atom has two hydrogens instead of four hydrogens . To satisfy the tetravalency of carbon, the  benzene ring  consisted of alternate single and double bonds. August Kekule in dream saw a snake coil up, and grabs its own tail then he proposed benzene might be a  ring structure .

4. Benzene preparation methods Sodium benzoate  is heated with soda-lime ( NaOH ) and when it gets decarboxylated benzene is obtained. Phenol vapors are passed over heated zinc dust, benzene is formed. When ethyne is passed through a red hot copper tube, it polymerizes to benzene Benzene is formed on the reduction of benzene diazonium chloride with sodium stannite or  hypophosphorus acid . Benzene sulphonic acid on hydrolysis with superheated steam gives benzene .   C 6 H 5 .SO 3 H + H 2 O —> C 6 H 6  + H 2 SO 4

5. 5 major processes for production of benzene Following are the other major processes for production of benzene Catalytic reforming Toluene hydrodealkylation Toluene disproportionation Pyrolysis gasoline Production from coal tar

6. Pyrolysis gasoline Pyrolysis gasoline is the by-product of steam cracking of  petroleum  by products like paraffin gases, naphthas , gas oils. Pyrolysis gasoline contains 5 per cent diolefins . In addition it also contains 60 per cent aromatic compounds, 50 per cent of benzene. Different techniques are applied on diolefins to produce benzene, these are Distillation of diolefins to olefins Saturation of olefins to remove sulfur content Execution of solvent extraction and distillation process to obtain benzene

7. Production from coal tar This process improved methods of recovery and purification that coke-oven benzene has been able to withstand the competition of petroleum-derived benzene as well as it has. Production of benzene from coal tar involves recovering benzene from coal tar. Extraction of lowest boiling point fractions Applying of caustic soda for the removal of tar acids Crude oil distillation Crude oil purification through hydrodealkylation

8. Toluene   Hydrodealkylation Toluene hydrodealkylation reaction takes place is as follows Mixing of  toluene  with aromatics or paraffins At specific pressures these mixtures are heated in the presence of hydrogen gas The steam which is formed in previous step then moved to reactor containing dealkylation catalyst In this reactor toluene reacts with hydrogen as a result, benzene and methane products will form At high pressures benzene is separated from methane Then methane also removed from reactor Here in this step benzene can be recovered from fractionalization column and then be stored.

9. Catalytic Reforming Catalytic reforming involves the dehydrogenation of naphthenes to aromatics, or the isomerizatoin of alkylnaphthenes and it follows dehydrogenation process. The feed for this process is naptha .   First the naptha is hydrotreated to remove sulfur contaminant. Recycled hydrogen is then added, mixed and heated. Conversion of paraffins to aromatic compounds in catalytic reactors and in this reactors platinum or rhenium chloride is acts as catalyst. In further step a stream is formed which is rich in aromatic compounds. Then stream is sent to separation section to separate hydrogen and this hydrogen recycled as basic feedstock. Liquid portion of stream fed to a stabilizer which separates hydrocarbons from liquids. The liquid is then sent to a debutanizer Benzene, toluene and xylenes are then extracted using glycol and sulfonate solvents