Team #7:

Adam Jones, Larae Baker,

Mike Heslinga, Maxine Bent,

Jonathan Bush

Chemical Engin-EARS 

Engineering an Alternate Route to

Styrene

Styrene

Used to make polystyrene and ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) polymers.

28 billion dollar industry1

11.9 billion pounds of Styrene produced per year2

1www.styrene.org/economy.html

2Chemical and Engineering News

Outline

Objectives

Chemistry

Why EARS?

Route to Solution

Objectives

Design full scale industrial plant

Produce the catalyst in the lab

Economically and environmentally friendly

Optimal location

The Chemistry

Begins with Benzene and Ethylene,

but…

Steam

-H2

F.C. Alkyl

AlCl3

Initiator

Courtesy of Dr. Keith Watson, Dow Chemical; Oct. 5, 2005

Ethane is Cheaper!!

Why EARS for Senior Design?

Exploring New Chemistry

Real Application of Design

Design Norms

• Stewardship

• Justice

Route to Solution

Research of Patents

Laboratory Work

Contacts at Dow Chemical

Computer Simulation

Questions?