title: Membrane reactor technology for C5/C6 hydroisomerization.
abstract: In this paper, we propose an improved hydroisomerization process, making use of membrane reactor technology. Linear alkanes are selectively supplied from a hydrocarbon feed (consisting of branched and linear alkanes) through an inert tubular membrane to a packed bed of catalyst. The results indicate that n-, mono- and di-branched components in a gas mixture can be separated with a selectivity factor of greater than 20 with a zeolite membrane under dedicated parameter settings. The RON-value of the product was calculated to be as high as 90 in a single pass reactor, which is 50 points higher than the feed value. The flux through the membrane could be optimized to give a STY/ATY ratio for the reactor of 877 m-1, which falls within the limits of technical feasibility.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of Stellenbosch, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa.
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: McLeary
authors.forename: E J W
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Buijsse
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gora
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: Th
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maschmeyer
mesh_terms: D000473:Alkanes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002617:Chemical Industry / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D007536:Isomerism; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D013672:Technology / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000473:Alkanes; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D008567:Membranes, Artificial