Palladium membrane reactor for the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene

Abstract

The Pd membrane was made by the electroless plating of Pd on the oxidized porous stainless steel (PSS) support with a 0.5 mum grade. The dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene was carried out in both the Pd membrane reactor and fixed-bed reactor at temperatures from 450 to 625 degreesC and 1.2 atm pressure with a steam/ethylbenzene ratio of 6.8. As the result of the removal of hydrogen, the ethylbenzene conversion in the Pd membrane reactor was about 10% higher than that in the fixed-bed reactor for temperatures above 600 degreesC. More importantly, the styrene selectivity in the Pd membrane reactor was similar to 15% higher than that in the fixed-bed reactor. (C) 2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.