Hydroisomerization of C6 with a zeolite membrane reactor

C6 “once-through” hydroisomerization was investigated in a membrane reactor combining platinum containing chlorinated alumina fixed-bed catalyst and a silicalite-1/TiO2/SS tubular membrane. In this application of a silicalite-1 zeolite membrane the feed mixture is passed over the membrane, where the linear molecules are separated and fed to the catalyst in the zeolite membrane reactor. The membrane reactor performance has been studied as a function of temperature and sweep gas flow rate. Separated n-C6 from 2-MP (selectivity 24) is converted for 72%, with 36% selectivity for di-branched isomers (at 393 K, H2 sweep 50 ml/min). The results indicate that the platinum-containing chlorinated alumina/silicalite-1 membrane reactor has a high potential for upgrading octane values.