This editorial discusses using selective membranes to maximize production and minimize pollution in catalytic reactions. Almost all catalytic reactions are reversible and limited by thermodynamic equilibrium, but removing one product using selective membranes can break this limitation and increase conversion. Specifically, the editorial focuses on using hydrogen-selective membranes to remove hydrogen from dehydrogenation reactions like ethylbenzene to styrene, coupled with hydrogenation reactions on the other side of the membrane. Counter-current flow configuration between the two reactions is the most efficient. Figures 1 and 2 show schematics of the integrated membrane reactor design and hydrogen profiles for different flow configurations.

1. SSEH Elnashaie*
Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Canada
*Corresponding author: SSEH Elnashaie, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Vancouver, Canada
Submission: February 09, 2018; Published: March 19, 2018
Brief on Catalytic Reactions to Maximize
Production and Minimize Pollution (MPMP)
Opinion
One of the main techniques for pollution control and achieving
green technology is to achieve MPMP. Almost all catalytic reactions
in the Petroleum refining and petrochemical industry are reversible
and therefore their conversion is limited by the thermodynamic
equilibrium. This conservative limitation can be broken by using
selective membranes to remove one of the products. In this couple
of pages editorial this revolutionary concept leading to MPMP
is used for the dehydrogenation reaction where the selective
membranes are used for the perm-selective removal of hydrogen
[1-3]. These membranes have 100% selectivity for the removal of
hydrogen. Most efficient configuration is when in the other side
of the membrane is a hydrogenation reaction and the flows in
the two sides of the membrane are counter-current. Such MPMP
for catalytic reactors is essential part of Sustainable Development
Engineering (SDE) which is an important subsystem of Sustainable
Development (SD). The removal of one, or more, of the products
relaxes this limitation and increases the conversion of the reaction;
this relaxation increases as the removal of the product(s) is
increased. The optimal utilization of this approach leads to MPMP
approaching green technology and is a part of SDE. This editorial is
concentrating on the removal of hydrogen from a dehydrogenation
reaction, mainly ethyl-benzene to styrene [1-3], using hydrogen
perm-selective membranes. The rate of hydrogen removal from the
reaction side depends upon the type of the membrane and also the
hydrogen driving force between the two sides of the membranes.
This driving force increases when there is a hydrogenation reaction
in the other side of the membrane. In this editorial a hydrogenation
reaction of nitrobenzene to aniline is taking place on the other side
of the membranes.
379
Copyright © All rights are reserved by SSEH Elnashaie.
Volume 4 - Issue -3
Opinion
Research & Development in
Material Science
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ISSN: 2576-8840
Figure 1 : Schematic diagram showing integrated reactor
configuration.
Figure 2 : Hydrogen profiles for different configurations/
sides.
Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram for this novel integrated
membrane reactor. Figure 2 shows the hydrogen profiles for both
co-current and counter-current configurations. For counter-current
case, feed is from the right for the hydrogenation compartment;
otherwise all feeds are from the left. The counter-current is
obviously more efficient.

2. Res Dev Material Sci Copyright © SSEH Elnashaie
380
How to cite this article: SSEH Elnashaie. Brief on Catalytic Reactions to Maximize Production and Minimize Pollution (MPMP). Res Dev Material Sci. 4(3).
RDMS.000588.2018. DOI: 10.31031/RDMS.2018.04.000588
Volume 4 - Issue - 3
References
1. She Y, Han J, Ma YH (2001) Palladium membrane reactor for the
dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene. Catal Today 67(1-3): 43-
53.
2. Hermann Ch, Quicker P, Dittmeyer R (1997) Mathematical simulation
of catalytic dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene to styrene in a composite
palladium membrane reactor. J Membr Sci 136(1-2): 161-172.
3. Abashar MEE (2003) Coupling of ethylbenzene dehydrogenation and
benzene hydrogenation reactions in fixed bed catalytic reactors. Chem
Eng Pro 43: 1195-1202.
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