What is the significance of monomer-grade styrene purity in the chemical recycling process of polystyrene, and how is it achieved?

Label:chem

Topic
The process aims to produce monomer-grade styrene with purity greater than 99%. Styrene is recovered from the pyrolysis mixture, which contains various contaminants.
Answer
A purity of greater than 99% is required for styrene to be used as a feedstock for polystyrene manufacturing. This purity is achieved through a two-column distillation process, where the first column separates styrene from lighter fractions (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene), and the second separates it from α-methyl styrene and other heavy components.
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