Gas-phase Cracking Dicyclopentadiene Using Hydrogen as a Carrier Gas

Abstract

The process of cracking dicyclopentadiene to produce cyclopentadiene using hydrogen as a carrier gas is investigated. This process has many advantages over using N₂ or water vapor as a carrier gas for producing anhydrous polymerization level dicyclopentadiene. Factors, including cracking temperature, reaction time, and H₂ to oil ratio, are studied. The conversion of dicyclopentadiene increases with the increasing of cracking temperature and reaction time; the yield of cyclopentadiene increases, and then drops a little with the increasing of reaction time. Optimal reaction conditions are as follows: suitable cracking temperature is 320°C, reaction time is 1 sec, and H₂ to oil ratio is 50. Cracking temperature of the process is about 30°C lower than using N₂ or water vapor as the carrier gas. At the optimal conditions, the conversion of dicyclopentadiene could reach 98%, while the yield of cyclopentadiene is 97%. The reaction kinetic model of the process is also studied, and the model could predict the conversion of dicyclopentadiene well.

Keywords:

• cracking
• dicyclopentadiene
• H₂ carrier gas