Patent ID: 8900523
Filing Date: 2014-12-02
Classification: B01J,C07C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for converting C 2 and/or higher alkanes to olefins, comprising (a) a supply of feedstock containing C 2 and/or higher alkanes, (b) a metal composite membrane of a sintered homogenous mixture of a metal oxide ceramic powder including stabilized or partially stabilized ZrO 2 and a metal powder consisting essentially of Pd, a Pd alloy, or a combination thereof, wherein the membrane has substantially no interconnected porosity, (c) a mechanism for contacting said feedstock with one side of said membrane wherein the C 2 and/or higher alkanes dehydrogenate to olefins by contact with said membrane and atomic hydrogen from the dehydrogenation of the alkanes passes through said membrane to another side thereof, and (d) a mechanism for separating the formed olefins from said one side of said membrane while separating atomic hydrogen from said other side.