(520c) MFI-Type Zeolite Membrane Reactor for High Temperature Ethane Dehydrogenation

Ethene is the largest base chemical for the chemical industry and the increasing demand for ethene has stimulated substantial research into the development of new processes to reduce energy consumption. Catalytic ethane dehydrogenation using a packed bed membrane reactor (PBMR) is an attractive solution because the cracking equilibrium can be shifted in favor of ethylene by selective removal of hydrogen. In this study, we report the process intensification of ethane dehydrogenation reaction in PBMR operating with a Pt/Al₂O₃ catalyst. The effects of MFI zeolite membranes on ethane conversion and ethene selectivity are investigated. Increasing the reaction temperature and pressure helped in enhancing H₂ permeation across the membrane, which significantly increased the ethane conversion. It is demonstrated that medium-pore MFI membranes with moderate H₂/C₂H₆ selectivity can be effective in enhancing ethane conversion at high operation temperature by timely removal of H₂ through the membranes.