Characteristics and performance in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane of MFI and V-MFI zeolite membranes

Original V-MFI zeolite membranes in/on alumina tubes have been prepared, ch aracterized and tested for the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane. The mo rphological and textural characteristics of the V-MFI membrane were found t o be very similar to those of V-free MFI membranes. The insertion of vanadi um species has been checked by elemental analysis, XRD, FTIR and ESR. The s ingle gas permeance studies showed that both MFI and V-MFI membranes were f ree of macrodefects and provided an activated transport for both C3H8 and O -2 above 400 degrees C, with a Knudsen-like permselectivity, Both MFI and V -MR membranes were found to produce propene with about 40% selectivity but with higher O-2 and C3H8 conversions for the V-MFI. In: the studied conditi ons, between 550 and 650 degrees C, the oxygen distributor configuration wa s not found to improve the reactor performance compared to the flow-through one. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.