Applications of New Membrane Reactor Technology in the Chemical Industry

In recent decades, the integration of separation processes and reactions in a unit known as membrane reactor technology as a very powerful tool to improve the efficiency and economy in the chemical industry, has put promising procedures toward the researchers. The main objective of this study was to give a full report on the use of new technologies of membrane reactors in the chemical processes. In this study, first a variety of membrane reactors including polymeric, silica, metal, zeolite and perovskite membrane reactors has been investigated. Then, the application of this novel technology in various chemical processes, including processes of reforming, dehydrogenation, isomerization and decomposition of ammonia and CO2 and NOx has been analysed. Nowdays, due to the application of fossil fuels, environmental problems caused by greenhouse gas emissions is taken into consideration. Hence, the hydrogen as a clean fuel alternative is suggested. Literatures indicated that hydrogen can be achieved by using membrane reactor technology during the hydrocarbons reforming processes. On the one hand, regarding to hydrogen production purpose and its use in fuel cells, ammonia is considered as a suitable energy carrier for hydrogen production and its decomposition process, greenhouse gas emissions, involving CO and CO2, will not be obtained. On the other hand, by applying this technology in the analysis of nitrogen and carbon oxides, the harms caused from greenhouse gas emissions can be depleted.