Comparison of different catalysts in the membrane-supported dehydrogenation of propane

Dehydrogenation of propane is studied in a high temperature packed bed catalytic membrane reactor with a hydrogen-selective silica membrane. The silica membrane is prepared by a two-step sol–gel process. The removal of hydrogen in the membrane reactor results in higher propane conversion and higher propene yields in comparison to an equivalent fixed-bed reactor. Unfortunately, as a result of the H2 removal coking is favoured in the membrane reactor. Therefore, the higher propene yields are found only for the first 100–120 min time on stream. However, the lower selectivity of the membrane reactor due to coking is compensated to some extend by a reduced hydrogenolysis. Two commercial dehydrogenation catalysts of different activity were tested in the membrane reactor: Cr2O3/Al2O3 and Pt–Sn/Al2O3. The two catalysts show a different activity, coking, and regeneration behaviour in the membrane-supported propane dehydrogenation.