A Novel porous membrane reactor for a controllable butene oxidative reaction

A novel membrane reactor, composed of a specially prepared porous γ-alumina ceramic membrane tube and a stainless steel shell, has been designed, and a butene oxidative dehydrogenation reaction has been carried out in it over ferrite catalyst. By introducing butene and air into two sides of the porous membrane tube and adjusting the pressure difference across the tube, air permeation into the reaction region can be controlled and butene counterpermeation to the air region can be eliminated. Thus, the oxidative reaction of butene can be carried out at a high butene concentration and a suitable oxygen content, leading to much higher reactive selectivity and yield compared with the conventional fixed bed reactor. A method for preparing a nonuniform membrane is given. The effects of some operation parameters, such as the permeation and its axial distribution across the membrane, temperature, composition of the feed, and space velocity on the reaction performance have been studied and discussed. It is shown from the study that this kind of reactor can be used for most oxidation reactions if the oxygen reaction order of the main reaction is lower than that of the side reaction.