The Enhancement of Reaction Yield Through the Use of High Temperature Membrane Reactors

Abstract

Membrane reactors combine reaction and separation in a single unit operation, the membrane selectively removing one or more of the reactant or product species. Most commonly these reactors have been used with reactions, whose yields are limited by thermodynamic equilibrium. For such reactions, membrane reactors seem to offer potential advantages over more traditional reactors. Membrane reactors have also been proposed for other applications; for increasing the yield of enzymatic and catalytic reactions by influencing, through the membrane, the concentration of various intermediate species; for selectively removing species, which would otherwise poison or deactivate the reaction; and for providing a controlled interface between two or more reactant species. Membrane reactors are currently being tested with a number of catalytic reactions. Reactions studied by our group include catalytic dehydrogenation of ethane, and methane steam reforming. Theoretical models have also been developed for these reactors to explain the experimental data. A brief description of our experimental and theoretical studies is presented here.