For the process of dehydrogenation of propane , which means that the part of the

propane or overall propane will be converted into propene through some process.
Each of these process are required their specific requirement in order to complete the
conversion of propane into alkene and others sub-products . The chemical equation
for the overall conversion is: C3H8 -> C2H4 + CH4. Which the ethane and methane
will be formed. Dehydrogenation of propane requires condition with high temperature
, presence of a stable catalyst and low partial pressure of propane. For the reactant
part which is the feed of this process , there is only propane. While for the products
formed , there are propane and hydrogen. For the input side , originally the
temperature is starts with 600 degree Celsius and for the separator which is the place
where the products formed the temperature output would be 800 degree Celsius.
Originally , 100 mol of propane is feed into this process which we consider this is the
input of the process and it is named as N1. When propane is passed into the reactor ,
product was formed which is the output and named as N2 for C2H4 , N3 for CH4 and
N4 for C3H8 . The product is proceeded into the separator which produce the pure
remaining output N5 for C3H8 , N6 for C2H4 and N7 for CH4. Which N5 is equals to
0.600 of N2 it. The remaining of the propane is recycle back original into the feed as
N8 which is C3H8. For this reaction , the overall fractional conversion is 85%.
The most common and famous method that we use to convert alkane into alkene is
through steam cracking. Steam cracking normally produced high percent yield of
alkenes compound. Cracking is means that breaking the complicated organic
molecules which is the hydrocarbon chain into smaller and simpler light
hydrocarbons. Usually steam cracking is a strongly endothermic reaction, this is due
to this process consumed a lot of heat energy in order the break the hydrocarbon
molecules and categorized them into specific smaller and light hydrocarbons. This
process requires high temperature and high pressures. The presence of catalyst in this
process is a need , this is due to catalyst can help to speed up the process and improve
the purifications of the products formed. The catalyst used in this process is platinum
on an inert support such as alumina. Sometimes the side reaction do happens in steam
cracking , which the feedstock will crack to form carbon if the pressure in the system
is low. The product formed for this reaction is depends the compositions of the feed. If
the composition of the feed is good enough and got a lot , the product formed will be
better but must with the requirement which is high pressure and temperature during
the process running.
The normal operating ranges for this reaction to carry on is about 750-850 degree
Celsius(1380-1560Fahrenheit). This is to ensure the high temperature for the cracking
to occur. This process will causes the superheated hydrocarbon to mixed together. As
the mixture goes up , 10-30psi which is pressure is best for cracking them. The
cracking products is then charged to a fractionating column where to separate the
smaller and ligher hydrocarbon and categorized them. Catalyst is present in this
reaction to ensure that the products does not stick with coke.
The ethylene which is ethene formed in the product , actually is a colourless
flammable gas. It is also the most important organic chemical , which act as building
block for a big range of chemicals example from plastic to antifreeze solutions and

solvents. Ethylene also act as ripening agent , which use to gas the fruits causes the
colour of the fruits to be more colourful and soften the fruits. Ethylene also can react
with benzene to make ethylbenzene which processed into styrene and helps in the
productions of rubbers.Ethylene also helps the production of specialty glass for the
automotive industry especially for car glass. Besides , ethylene also bring harmful to
our environment in our daily life. The production of ethylene also will used up our
useful source in our earth which is crude oil that is non renewable. In air , ethylene act
as primary as an asphyxiant , concentration of ethylene in the air if increased and if
inhale by human , it will reduce the oxygen content to such a low level in human body
that cannot be supported.
According to research , since ethylene is widely used in all the industrial. Since
2006 it was produced over 109 million tones. It could brought a lot of convenience to
us in our daily life. For the current market , demand is greater than 150million tons
per year with a global growth rate of 3.5% over the next 5 years. By the way , for the
current capacity of world scale plants is around 1 million tons per year up from the
300 thousand tons per year world scale plants of the late 70s to early 80s.