Oxidative dehydrogenation of butane to butadiene and butene using a novel inert membrane reactor

The oxidative dehydrogenation of butane to butadiene and butene was studied using a conventional fixed-bed ractor (FBR), inert membrane reactor (IMR) and mixed inert membrane reactor (MIMR). When IMR and MIMR were employed, a ceramic membrane modified by partially coating; with glaze was used to dis tribute oxygen to a fixed-bed of 24-V-Mg-O catalyst. The oxygen partial pre ssure in the catalyst bed could be decreased. The effect of feeding modes a nd operation conditions were investigated. The selectivity of C-4 dehydroge nation products (butene and butadiene) was found to be higher in IMR than i n FBR. The feeding mode with 20% of air mixing with butane in MIMR was foun d to be more efficient than the feeding mode with all air permeating throug h ceramic membrane. The MIMR gave the most smooth temperature profile along the bed.