Simulation of ethylbenzene dehydrogenation in microporous catalytic membrane reactors
Current state-of-the-art inorganic oxide membranes offer the potential of being modified to yield catalytic properties. The resulting modules may be configured to simultaneously induce catalytic reactions with product concentration and separation in a single processing step. Processes utilizing such catalytically active membrane reactors have the potential for dramatically increasing yield of reactions which are currently limited by either thermodynamic equilibria, product inhibition, or kinetic selectivity. Examples of systems of commercial interest include hydrogenation, dehydrogenation, partial and selective oxidation, hydrations, hydrocarbon cracking, olefin metathesis, hydroformylation, and olefin polymerization. A large portion of the most significant reactions fall into the category of high temperature, gas phase chemical and petrochemical processes. Microporous oxide membranes are well suited for these applications. A program is proposed to investigate selected model reactions of commercial interest (i.e., dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene and dehydrogenation of butane to butadiene) using a high temperature catalytic membrane reactor. Membranes will be developed, reaction dynamics characterized, and production processes developed, culminating in laboratory-scale demonstration of technical and economic feasibility. As a result of the anticipated increased yield per reactor pass, large economic incentives are envisioned. First, a large decrease in the temperature required to obtain high yield should be possible because of the reduced driving force requirement. Significantly higher conversion per pass implies a reduced recycle ratio, as well as reduced reactor size. Both factors result in reduced capital costs, as well as savings in cost reactants and energy. The controlled, defined reaction zone (the membrane interface), will facilitate the reactor design process and permit greater control of reactor dynamics.
- Research Organization:
- Aluminum Co. of America, Warrendale, PA (United States). Separations Technology Div.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- FC07-88ID12778
- OSTI ID:
- 10155415
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/ID/12778--1; ON: DE92016807
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
320303
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400105
400201
ALGORITHMS
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL AND PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROPERTIES
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COMPUTER CODES
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
DEHYDROGENATION
ENERGY CONSERVATION
EQUIPMENT AND PROCESSES
HYDROGEN
MASS TRANSFER
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MEMBRANE TRANSPORT
MEMBRANES
SEPARATION PROCEDURES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STYRENE
SYNTHESIS