Mass Transfer through a Convection Flow Catalytic Membrane Layer with Dispersed Nanometer-Sized Catalyst

Abstract

Mass transfer rates across catalytic membrane interfaces accompanied by first-order, irreversible reactions have been investigated. The catalyst particles impregnated in the membrane matrix are assumed to be very fine, nanometer-sized particles which are uniformly distributed in the structure of the membrane layer. A pseudohomogeneous model has been developed to describe mass transport through this catalytic membrane layer. Explicit mathematical equations have been given for the prediction of mass transfer rates and the concentration distribution as a function of the physical and chemical parameters, taking into account both diffusive and convective flow through the catalytic membrane layer. The mass transfer rate as well as the reaction modulus are strongly influenced by the membrane properties, such as the size of catalyst particles, the catalyst phase holdup, the mass transfer coefficient between the continuous phase and catalyst particles, etc. The simple, mathematical equations that have been develop...