Production of pure hydrogen and more valuable hydrocarbons from ethane on a novel highly active catalyst system with a Pd-based membrane reactor

Production of pure hydrogen and more valuable hydrocarbons from ethane on a novel highly active catalyst system with a Pd-based membrane reactor is studied at the mild reaction temperatures of 773–858 K and a wide SV range of ethane. Re/HZSM-5 is highly active for upgrading of ethane for production of hydrogen and more valuable hydrocarbons such as ethylene and aromatics (BTX) even at the relatively lower temperatures. Formation rates of the more valuable hydrocarbons and hydrogen are remarkably enhanced by selective permeation of hydrogen product in the membrane reactor. It is also found that formation rate of methane as a side product is effectively suppressed by selective permeation of hydrogen though the membrane tubes. Therefore, both ethane conversion and selectivity for production of hydrogen and more valuable hydrocarbons such as ethylene and BTX are greatly enhanced by application of the membrane reactor.