Design and Fabrication of Ceramic Catalytic Membrane Reactors for Green Chemical Engineering Applications

Catalytic membrane reactors (CMRs), which synergistically carry out separations and reactions, are expected to become a green and sustainable technology in chemical engineering. The use of ceramic membranes in CMRs is being widely considered because it permits reactions and separations to be carried out under harsh conditions in terms of both temperature and the chemical environment. This article presents the two most important types of CMRs: those based on dense mixed-conducting membranes for gas separation, and those based on porous ceramic membranes for heterogeneous catalytic processes. New developments in and innovative uses of both types of CMRs over the last decade are presented, along with an overview of our recent work in this field. Membrane reactor design, fabrication, and applications related to energy and environmental areas are highlighted. First, the configuration of membranes and membrane reactors are introduced for each of type of membrane reactor. Next, taking typical catalytic reactions as model systems, the design and optimization of CMRs are illustrated. Finally, challenges and difficulties in the process of industrializing the two types of CMRs are addressed, and a view of the future is outlined.