Microwave irradiated thermal cracking reactor

Abstract

Thermal cracking is a high temperature (500-900 °C) chemical process commonly used in the production of light hydrocarbons as gasoline, ethylene and others from heavy hydrocarbons (petrochemical naphtha). High energy consuming reactors are usually used to perform this kind of process. A microwave applicator suitable to process high temperature reactions as naphtha cracking was developed as described in this paper. An example of microwave assisted cracking of 154-181 °C boiling range naphtha also is described. Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry analysis results for naphtha and cracked hydrocarbons are shown.