Greener production of styrene via low-temperature dehydration of phenethyl alcohol over Co-supported P/ZrO2

Despite the rising need for styrene, the alternative method of synthesis from bio-based alcohols is little explored and poorly understood. We have investigated the option for the alternate produce styrene via vapour-phase dehydration of phenethyl alcohol using a cobalt phosphonate zirconia oxide. The Study demonstrates that a metallic element (cobalt) is essential for dehydrating phenethyl alcohol, restricting the decomposition of styrene to polystyrene acid. This Co phosphonate-zirconium-based catalyst exhibits selective styrene from phenylethanol, showing a much greener route to producing styrene and lower activation energy (Ea = 54.36 KJ/mol) than other solid acid catalysts used so far. An 88.6 % conversion of phenethyl alcohol was achieved with a selectivity of 75.1 % over 4.5CoP/ZrO2 catalyst.