Membrane reactors in gas phase oxidations

This research was aimed at developing new catalytic membrane reactors to be used for : i) partial oxidation of toluene (to benzaldehyde and benzoic acid) ii) oxidative dehydrogenation of propane iii) complete oxidation of propane and toluene. The reactor is particularly useful for the optimisation and the industrial development of heterogeneous catalytic processes, particularly for those processes where it is necessary to control the reactants stoichiometry in the reaction zone. This control limits consecutive reactions, thus obtaining high selectivity with industrially interesting conversions. This presentation will concentrate on the partial oxidation of toluene.