POROUS PT GAMMA-AL2O3 CATALYTIC MEMBRANE REACTORS PREPARED USING MESITYLENE SOLVATED PT ATOMS/

The opportunity of using mesitylene solvated Pt atoms for the depositi on of Pt catalyst on inorganic membranes is shown. The catalytic activ ity of the membrane reactor has been tested using the hydrogenation of benzene as model reaction. The performance of the membrane reactor ha s been compared with that of a conventional packed bed using gamma-Al2 O3 powder impregnated with Pt. The effect of the feeding configuration has been investigated, and the results show a membrane effect due to the different degrees of accessibility of pores of different size. For alumina powder we have obtained an activation energy of 12.9 kcal/ mo l, which well agrees with the data reported in literature. The membran e reactor, instead, exhibited an activation energy ca. 60% lower. The preliminary porometry results have shown a slight effect of the platin um deposition process on membrane permeability.