The document presents a project report on designing a plant to manufacture 50,000 tons per year of styrene oxide. Key points: 1) Styrene oxide is produced through the oxidation of styrene and will be manufactured using a process involving the production of ethylbenzene, styrene, and then chlorination of styrene to produce styrene oxide. 2) Safety and environmental hazards around styrene oxide production will need to be addressed as it is a potential carcinogen and teratogen. 3) The designed plant will include equipment like continuous stirred-tank reactors to perform the necessary chemical reactions.

1. A Project Report on
Design A Plant To Manufacture
Styrene Oxide
By
UJJWAL BAJPAI (1071110009)
ARITRA MUKHERJEE (1071110029)
Under the guidance of
Dr. K. Tamilarasan

2. Objective To design a plant for manufacturing Styrene Oxide of capacity 50000 tons per annum
Styrene Oxide-Introduction
Though Styrene Oxide is manufactured by oxidation of Styrene it is a misnomer, rather it is an
epoxide of Styrene.
Oxidation
Oxirane Phenyl Oxirane
IUPAC Name 2-Phenyl Oxirane
• It exists as pale yellow liquid at room temperature.
• Styrene oxide is a major metabolite of styrene in humans as well as an industrial chemical
• Styrene oxide has been used as a reactive plasticizer or diluents for epoxy resins.
• used for production of Styrene Glycol and its derivatives

3. Physical Properties
• Molecular formula: C8H8O
• Molar mass: 120.15 g/mol
• pale straw-coloured liquid
• Pleasant odour
• vapour pressure 0.3 mm Hg at 20°C.
• Density : 1.052 g/cc
• Melting point: -35.6oC
• Boiling point: 194.1oC
• Completely soluble in acetone , benzene ,
carbon tetrachloride
Chemical Properties
•Racemic mixture is formed when exposed
to nucelophiles like acidic
solutions.
•SN1 mechanism is
followed
Chemical Structure
•The structure contains 2 cyclic structures.
•One ring is 6 membered and is
homocyclic.
•Another ring is 3 membered and
heterocyclic because of Oxygen atom
attached in the ring.
•The Structure Contains 10 sigma bonds
and 3 pi bonds
Chiral Carbon

4. Plan of action
Styrene Oxide Production
Styrene Production Conversion of Styrene to Styrene Oxide
Benzene-Ethyl Benzene- Styrene
High Conversion 90-95%
Economical Cost of Reactants
Toluene+Methanol – Styrene
Cheapest raw materials
Low selectivity
Decarboxyllation of Cinnamic acid
Availability and high cost renders
the method unfeasible.
H202+Acetic Anhydride –Peracetic acid+
Styrene-Styrene Oxide
8 kg of acetic anhydride is used for
producing 1 kg of Styrene oxide.
High Peroxy Compounds Exposure
Production via chlorhydrin route
Chlorination of Styrene to form a mixture
of Styrene Chloride and Styrene
Chlorohydrin and then it is furthur
converted to styrene oxide.

5. Production Of Ethyl Benzene
Main Reaction
Reconversion of Diethyl Benzene to Ethyl Benzene

6. Production of Styrene
C6H5CH2CH3 C6H6 + C2H4
sidereaction1
C6H5CH2CH3 8 C + 5 H2
sidereaction2
C6H5CH2CH3 + H2 C6H5CH3 + CH4
sidereaction3
Main Reaction

7. Styrene Oxide Production
Chlorination of Styrene
Reaction CSTR a
Reaction CSTR b

8. Hazards
•Harmful when breathed in and can cause
headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness,
•Styrene Oxide may be a teratogen in
humans as it has been proven for animals
•Styrene Oxide should be handled as a
CARCINOGEN and a TERATOGEN--HANDLE
WITH EXTREME CAUTION.
•Styrene Oxide can irritate the skin and
eyes. Long term exposure may cause
dermatitis.
•Very high levels could cause nervous
system depression, liver damage, and
anaemia and may cause death.
Uses
Reactive
Plasticizer
Styrene
Oxide
Surface
Coatings
Food
Grade
Flavor
Styrene
Glycol
Perfumes
Cosmetics
Chemical which is used in gamut of the chemical
industry never go out of demand.

9. References
• George T. Austin Shreve’s Chemical Process Industries Fifth Edition page 661-687.
• M. Gopala Rao Marshall Sittig Dryden’s Outline of Chemical Technology Third
Edition East West Press page 518-525
• Oxford University chemicals safety data sheet, Styrene Oxide.
• US PATENT CITATIONS:
CITATION FILING DATE PUBLISHING
DATE
TITLE
US2232910 JULY 27,1939 FEB 25,1941 CHEMICAL
PROCESS
US2237284 JULY 19,1939 APR 08,1941 DOW CHEMICAL
CO.
US2582114 JULY 07,1949 JAN 08,1952 US RUBBER CO.
US2776982 A 9 MAR,1953 8 JAN,1957 M.F. HANDLEY
PRODUCTION OF
STYRENE OXIDE