Propane dehydrogenation was studied in hydrogen permselective
packed-bed membrane reactors
and conventional packed-bed reactors. Two different types of
developmental membranes were
investigated: microporous silica-based membranes and a palladium thin
film supported by a
porous ceramic substrate. The membrane reactors were operated at
liquid hourly space velocities
(LHSVs) similar to those used in commercial reactors for propane
dehydrogenation. Although
the initial hydrogen permselectivity of the palladium membrane was
substantially higher than
that of the silica-based membranes, this membrane deactivated and
eventually failed after several
hours of exposure to reaction conditions. Moderate improvements in
propylene yield were
obtained with the silica-based membrane reactors. A propylene
yield of 39.6% was obtained at
an LHSV of 3 and a temperature of 823 K compared to a yield of 29.6%
in a conventional packed-bed reactor operated with the same flow rate. The reaction
selectivity for propylene was generally
above 97 mol % in both the conventional and membrane reactors,
however, catalyst deactivation
rates were generally higher in the membrane reactors.
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