A porous carbon membrane reactor for the homogeneous catalytic hydration of propene

A porous carbon membrane contactor was studied to determine whether such a reactor could be used for homogeneous catalytic reactions. The hydration of propene, catalysed by an aqueous solution of phosphoric acid, was selected as a suitable model reaction. Experiments at high pressure and temperature were conducted in a laboratory-scale gas phase continuous reactor equipped with a flat carbon membrane contactor. It was shown that reasonably stable operation of the reactor could be achieved at high operating pressures by tailoring the porous structure of the carbon membrane and coupling the reactor with an on-line feedback pressure controller. The reactor operated in a mass transfer limited regime due to mass transfer resistance in the liquid filled membrane pores. Periodic oscillation of transmembrane pressure was shown to reduce mass transfer resistance and considerably improve the overall reactor performance. A dynamic model of the reactor was developed and the results of simulations compared favourably with experiments and the performance of a commercially operated conventional reactor employing a supported liquid phase (SLP) catalyst. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.