DEVELOPMENT OF CERAMIC MEMBRANE REACTORS WITH A NONUNIFORM PERMEATIONPATTERN - APPLICATION TO METHANE OXIDATIVE COUPLING

A modified porous ceramic microfiltration membrane has been used as an oxygen distributor to a fixed bed catalytic reactor for methane oxida tive coupling. For the first time, in this work the pore structure alo ng the membrane has been altered, in order to attain a controlled, non -uniform pattern of oxygen permeation, which is shown to have signific ant advantages for the reaction investigated. The different permeation arrangements employed have been characterized, and compared in terms of the conversion and selectivity achieved.