Xylene isomerization in a ZSM-5/SS membrane reactor

A membrane reactor containing different types of ZSM-5/porous SS membranes was used to perform the xylene isomerization reaction. The parent Na-ZSM-5 layer was synthesized by secondary growth on top of porous stainless steel tubes. The xylene isomerization reaction was carried out at different temperatures in the membrane reactor and in a fixed-bed reactor of identical geometry for comparison. Two different kinds of membranes were prepared by ion exchange: a Pt/H-ZSM-5 catalytic membrane and two Ba-ZSM-5 composites with different Ba2+ concentration. The p-xylene production using 100% exchanged Ba-membrane was about 28% higher than the fixed-bed reactor at 370 degrees C, when m-xylene was fed.