More about the network
Catalytic membrane reactors (CMRs) could revolutionise the chemical industry through theirs ability to perform reactions, and the separation of products produced by the reactions, at the same time. They also have great potential in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. This Network aims to increase the pace of European research in this important but immature field by encouraging ideas and people to circulate among the member laboratories.
Unlike other membrane operations, such as reverse osmosis and ultrafiltration, CMRs are at an early stage of research. Yet they clearly represent the future of industrial chemical production and, therefore, constitute a strategic research area. Their key property is the ability to both carry out and separate the products of a reaction, just as they do in living cells. The possibility of combining, in a single step, molecular separation across a membrane with chemical reactions is becoming more and more attractive.
Almost all industrial chemical production takes place in plants comprising a reactor, a place where the transformation takes place, and a section that separates products from each other and from by-products and waste. It is often the separations that present the greatest problems, and it is here that CMRs have great potential. The membranes both catalyse the reactions, and separate the products in situ, which not only takes care of the separation, but also speeds up the conversions because the products that cause the reactions to settle down towards equilibrium, when there is no further net production, are removed immediately. This could lower the cost and required temperature of reactions, making some processes feasible that are currently too expensive or impractical.
CMRs can also be used to solve problems of synthesis and separation on a much smaller scale, for example, in the bioengineering micro-organisms for synthetic purposes. Membrane based systems are well suited to these tasks because they do not involve phase changes, are athermal, work at room temperature, are non-destructive and do not require the addition of other chemicals.
Catalytic membrane reactors might also permit a stechiometric supply of the reagent to the catalytic sites, the control and reduction of secondary reactions, the removal of species which can inhibit or decrease the catalysis activity. Reduction of plant size and of capital costs, modular nature of the reactors and easier scale-up are other potential benefits.
An interesting proposed use of CMRs is for the reduction of CO2 emissions in the burning of fossil fuels, which are the major source of energy in the world today. Being the main gas responsible for the greenhouse effect, which threatens to change climates and increase sea levels, action needs to be taken urgently to reduce CO2 emissions.
The various groups in the Network are conducting research addressing specific chemical reactions of particular environmental importance or that are relevant to use of energy, such as the separation and reduction of CO2, water gas shift reaction, and the partial oxidation of methane (CH4), another greenhouse gas.
Workshops are being organised approximately twice a year, at which leading scientists are invited to present the state of the art. All activities of the Network are aimed at strengthening existing national initiatives in the field, with particular focus on the exchange of young scientists between groups.
A newsletter reporting on the Network’s progress is published twice a year.
