Toluene → Ethylbenzene

Participants

Reaction Steps

Both about 200 g of a fraction containing 99% of compounds having at least four aromatic rings, the compounds having been obtained by alkylation of toluene, xylene and ethylbenzene with styrene in the presence of a sulfuric acid catalyst, and about 200 g of tetralin were charged in a one-liter autoclave, followed by charging therein hydrogen at an initial pressure of 100 kg/cm2G and reacting the whole mass at 430° C. for 240 minutes. The resultant decomposition product was subjected to distillation to obtain a fraction boiling at 300° to less than 400° C. and a fraction boiling at 400° to 450° C. Both fractions were mixed in a ratio of 3:2 so that the mixture had a viscosity of about 30 cSt. at 40° C. The mixed fraction was subjected to nuclear hydrogenation under an initial hydrogen pressure of 70 kg/cm2G in the presence of a rhodium-active carbon catalyst at 100° to 200° C. for about 11 hours and then filtered under reduced pressure through a glass filter to remove the catalyst, thereby obtaining a traction drive fluid.

Provenance & Evidence