Dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS FOR THE DEHYDROGENATION OF ETHYLBENZENE TO FORM STYRENE IN THE PRESENCE OF ADDED STEAM AT ELEVATED TEMPERATURES, THE IMPROVEMENT WHCIH COMPRISES SUCCESSIVELY PASSING TE VAPOROUS ETHYLBENZENE-STEAM MIXTURE THROUGH A FIXED BED OF DEHYDROGENATION CATALYST ARRANGED IN AT LEAST TWO LAYERS, THE INITIAL LAYER OF CATALYST BEING ONE WHERIN THE SELECTIVITY TO STYRENE IS AT LEAST 90 PERCENT, THE CATALYST OF SAID INITIAL LAYER OF CATALYST HAVING A MAJOR CONSTITUENT SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF IRON OXIDE, TITANIUM OXIDE, AND ZIRCONIUM OXIDE WHICH IS PROMOTED WITH AT LEAST ONE ALKALI METAL SALT AND STRUCTURALLY PROMOTED WITH AT LAST ONE METAL OXIDE, AND THE FINAL LAYER OF CATALYST BEING ONE WHERIN THE ACTIVITY IS HIGH ENOUGH TO YIELD CONVERSION OF ETHYLBENZENE TO STYRENE APPROACHING WITH IN ABOUT 5 PERCENT OF THE CHEMICAL EQUILIBRUIM CONVERSION, THE CATALYST OF SAID FINAL LAYER OF CATALYST HAVING A MAJOR PROPORTION OF IRON OXIDE WHICH IS PROMOTED WITH AN ALKALI METAL OXIDE.