Steam Conversion of Propane in a Membrane Reactor with a Commercial Nickel Catalyst

Abstract

The propane conversion in a membrane reactor with NIAP–03-01 commercial Ni catalyst at temperatures of 673, 723, 773, and 823 K, feed space velocities of 1800 and 3600 h–1, and steam/propane ratios of 5 and 7 was studied. The Н2 removal through the membrane leads to an increase in the conversion of the feed to Н2 and СО2 formed by the water-gas shift reaction. The conversion in this reaction increases when the rate of the Н2 recovery through the membrane is increased by the permeate evacuation. In the temperature interval 773–823 K, the feed conversion is 100%, and about 90% of high-purity Н2 is recovered from the reaction mixture. An increase in the feed/catalyst contact time leads to a decrease in the feed conversion to the target products and to an increase in the rate of carbon deposit formation. The regularities of the steam conversion of propane in a membrane reactor are similar to those found previously for n-butane with the same catalyst and under the same conditions.