Micro reactors with Pd/hollow fiber composite membranes for pure hydrogen production from ethanol reforming

Abstract

Two types of membrane micro reactors, i.e., a tri-layered catalytic membrane micro reactor (TCMMR) and a packed bed membrane micro reactor (PBMMR), were designed based on the Pd/Al2O3 hollow fiber composite membrane. Both reactors were tested for hydrogen production over oxidative steam reforming of ethanol. Pure hydrogen was obtained with these two types of membrane reactors, while the pure H2 productivity of PBMMR was higher than that of TCMMR. The sweep gas and pressure difference affected H2 permeation, while the H2 permeation from the reaction zone improved both the ethanol conversion and H2 selectivity of membrane micro reactors. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 2007 AIChE Annual Meeting (Salt Lake City, UT 11/4-9/2007).