A HIGH-TEMPERATURE CATALYTIC MEMBRANE REACTOR FOR ETHANE DEHYDROGENATION

A high temperature catalytic membrane reactor, containing a Pt impregnated alumina ceramic membrane tube in a shell-and-tube configuration, was used to study dehydrogenation reactions. Experiments in this membrane reactor in the temperature range of 450-600°C, with the ethane dehydrogenation reaction to produce ethylene, show reactor conversions up to 6 times higher than equilibrium conversions. This shift in equilibrium is due to the selective permeation of one of the reaction products, i.e. hydrogen, according to Knudsen diffusion. In the experiments we have utilized a trans-membrane pressure difference and an inert sweep gas on the low pressure side of the membrane. © 1990.