Demand for 1,3-butadiene, as a petrochemical intermediate, and value thereof are gradually increasing.
As methods of preparing 1,3-butadiene, there are naphtha cracking, direct dehydrogenation of butene, oxidative dehydrogenation of butene, etc.
Thereamong, oxidative dehydrogenation of butene, as a reaction generating 1,3-butadiene and water by reaction of butene with oxygen, generates stable water, thus being very thermodynamically advantageous.
In addition, since the oxidative dehydrogenation of butene is an exothermic reaction unlike the direct dehydrogenation of butene, it enables production of 1,3-butadiene in a high yield even at low reaction temperature, compared to direct dehydrogenation. In addition, in the case of the oxidative dehydrogenation, additional heat supply is not necessary, thereby being very suitable for a commercialization process.
However, after the oxidative dehydrogenation of butene, the intensity of a catalyst is decreased, thereby elevating differential pressure of a reactor.