High-performance catalytic perovskite hollow fiber membrane reactor for oxidative propane dehydrogenation

A novel hollow fiber catalytic membrane reactor for oxidative propane dehydrogenation (OPDH) was fabricated by integrating BaBi0.05Co0.8Nb0.15O3-delta (BBCN) perovskite hollow fiber membrane with silica-supported isolated Co2+ catalyst. Two other modes of propane dehydrogenation (PDH) were studied for comparison, non-oxidative dehydrogenation (NPDH), and conventional OPDH reaction via co-feed method. The results showed excellent performance of the catalytic membrane reactor, with C3H6 yield of similar to 50% and C3H6 selectivity of similar to 74% obtained at 650 degrees C over a 50-h long-term stability test, which are significantly higher than values obtained in the other two conventional reaction modes. Currently, this BBCN catalytic membrane reactor showed the highest C3H6 yield and best long-term stability as compared to other perovskite membrane reactors reported in literature. Propane feeding rate should be adjusted to match the oxygen permeation through the membrane thus maintaining the optimum ratio between propane to oxygen; excess oxygen permeation leads to combustion of propylene product and loss of propylene selectivity, while low oxygen permeation leads to low propane conversion. High temperature favors oxygen permeation through perovskite membranes but also increases the probability of cracking reaction. Therefore, if there is enough oxygen permeation through the membrane, it is preferred to operate this reaction at a lower temperature to increase the selectivity of propylene.