Recent Advances on Polymeric Membranes for Membrane Reactors

Membrane reactors are generally applied in high temperature reactions (>400 °C). In the field of fine chemical synthesis, however, much milder conditions are generally applicable and polymeric membranes were applied without their damage.

The successful use of membranes in membrane reactors is primary the result of two developments concerning: (i) membrane materials and (ii) membrane structures. The selection of a suited material and preparation technique depends on the application the membrane is to be used in. In this chapter a review of up to date literature about polymers and configuration catalyst/ membranes used in some recent polymeric membrane reactors is given.

The new emerging concept of polymeric microcapsules as catalytic microreactors has been proposed.

Keywords: Polymeric membranes, membrane reactors, catalytic membranes, inert membranes, polymeric microcapsules.