“Improved Membrane Process for Production of Propylene and Specialty Polymers/Chemicals”

Dr. ZOE ZIAKA-VASILEIADOUZiVaTech Institute, 15549 Dearborn street,

North Hills, CA 91343-3267, USA

Thursday 4/9/200314:00 p.m.

Hall “AIOLOS” CERTH

ABSTRACTResearch results on the catalytic propane dehydrogenation reaction in permeable (membrane) reactors as well as in non-permeable catalytic reactors are presented. The effects of all the important design parameters to the reactor performance (conversion, yield and selectivity) have been investigated. Propylene is a very important commodity chemical. Its annual production capacity grows annually. New cost and process effective production methods are under increasing consideration.

Mathematical models have been derived by the governing design equations of the reactor and solved numerically in dimensionless forms. First permeation studies for specific membrane materials have been examined. Complete kinetic studies have been performed and the results have been integrated into the above mathematical models. The results are compared with the experimental investigation of the reactor. At a later time membrane reactor performance studies have been done. Good agreement has been observed between modeling and experimental results.

Moreover, optimization studies involving a representative reaction system have been studied to derive a unique mathematical formula that describes the maximum attainable conversion in membrane reactors.

Besides, we describe new process designs (patentable) based on catalytic propane dehydrogenation processes including work in design of experiments, operation, and best parameter selection and optimization of such systems. These processes are of increased significance in hydrocarbon processing and conversion to valuable chemicals such as propylene and polypropylene. This is because of the unique design characteristics of the examined reactor-separator systems to perform multiple operations. Among others, permeable catalytic carriers (reactors) are utilized by applying shift principles in reactant conversion and product yield through rapid removal of permselective species out of the catalyst and reaction zone. In the downstream, the propylene products are used for direct polypropylene production through successive polymerization reactions.

As a conclusion, the proposed dehydrogenation permeable reactor configurations for propylene and polypropylene production from propane based streams seek to perform multiple improved unit operations by using single or integrated module/s. These effects/operations makes them advanced in comparison with up to now utilized conventional dehydrogenation reactors. They project a promising replacement technology for currently utilized propane to propylene production reactors and in conjunction with downstream polypropylene production reactors.

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Chemical Process Engineering Research Institute

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