Low-temperature cis to trans isomerization reaction-separation membranes using zeolite 13X polyethylacrylate

Zeolite–cobalt catalyst filled polyethylacrylate (PEA) reaction-separation membranes converted cis-piperylene to trans-piperylene in yields of more than 20% after 40 h. Pseudo-interpenetrating network (PIPN) membranes were tested by a single cell reactor at low temperatures (313–317 K). Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) was used to analyze the composition of the throughput and the feed in our experiment. The trans product did not contaminate the feed even after 40 h. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results used to analyze the membrane after a 40 h use indicated no cracks on the scale found previously in blend membrane. We also found the pseudo-first-order rate constant and its activation energy for the isomerization reaction in the membrane by using a phenomenological diffusion-reaction model. The latter values are consistent with surface diffusion control of the kinetics.