Oxidative dehydrogenation of propane in a perovskite membrane reactor with multi-step oxygen insertion

A membrane reactor incorporating a hollow fiber with successive parts of oxygen permeable and passivated surface segments has been developed and was used for the oxidative dehydrogenation (DH) of propane. This membrane geometry allows a controlled oxygen feeding into the reactor over its axial length. In the oxidative DH, the thermodynamic limitation of propane DH can be overcome. By using this novel hollow fiber membrane reactor with a Pt/Sn/K DH catalyst, oxygen separation and propene formation could be established even at temperatures as low as 625°C with long-term stability. Combining the hollow fiber membrane and the DH catalyst, the highest propene selectivity of 75% was observed at a propane conversion of 26% and 625°C whereas the best propene yield of 36% was obtained at 675°C (48% propene selectivity). The performance of this reactor is evaluated by applying various reaction conditions.