Exceeding equilibrium conversion with a catalytic membrane reactor for the dehydrogenation of methylcyclohexane

✍ Scribed by Jawad K. Ali; E.J. Newson; D.W.T. Rippin

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1994
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 526 KB
• Volume: 49
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0009-2509
• DOI: 10.1016/0009-2509(94)e0035-o

✦ Synopsis

A catalytic membrane reactor containing a tubular palladium-silver (Pd-Ag) membrane sealed in the centre to separate in situ the hydrogen produced, was used to exceed equilibrium limitations in the dehydrogenation of methylcyclohexane. A sulphided, monometallic, noble metal catalyst produced higher than equilibrium yields of toluene and hydrogen from methylcyclohexane at economically viable throughputs. Experiments in the membrane reactor in the temperature range of 573-673 K, pressure. range of 0.5-2.0 MPa and liquid hourly space velocity range of 2-12 volume feed/h/reactor volume showed conversions up to 4 times higher than equilibrium values after 300 h onstream and repeated temperature cycling. Exceeding equilibrium was due to the selective permeation of one of the reaction products, i.e. hydrogen, through the membrane. Reactor axial temperature profiles for the reaction with and without a membrane showed that the. total amount of catalyst is more efficiently utilized in the membrane reactor.