METHYL T-BUTYL ETHER DECOMPOSITION IN AN INERT MEMBRANE REACTOR COMPOSED OF 12-TUNGSTOPHOSPHORIC ACID CATALYST AND POLYPHENYLENE OXIDE MEMBRANE

The methyl t-butyl ether (MTBE) decomposition reaction was carried out in an inert membrane reactor and in a conventional fixed bed reactor to compare the reactor performance of the two reactors. The inert membrane reactor was composed of 12-tunggtophosphoric acid (H3PW12O40) catalyst and polyphenylene oxide membrane. The maximum attainable conversion of MTBE in the inert membrane reactor was always greater than that in the fixed bed reactor at temperatures ranging from 80 to 110-degrees-C. The selective permeation of methanol through the membrane caused chemical equilibrium shift toward the favourable direction. It was also revealed that the adsorption characteristics of MTBE into the bulk of the heteropoly acid catalyst also played an important role in the increase in MTBE conversion.