Membrane reactors combine membrane functions such as separation, reactant distribution, and catalyst support with chemical reactions in a single unit. The benefits of this approach include enhanced conversion, increased yield, and selectivity, as well as a more compact and cost-effect design of reactor system. Hence, membrane reactors are an effective route toward chemical process intensification.

This book covers all types of porous membrane reactors, including ceramic, silica, carbon, zeolite, and dense metallic reactors such as Pd or Pd-alloy, oxygen ion-conducting, and proton-conducting ceramics. For each type of membrane reactor, the membrane transport principles, membrane fabrication, configuration and operation of membrane reactors, and their current and potential applications are described comprehensively. A summary of the critical issues and hurdles for each membrane reaction process is also provided, with the aim of encouraging successful commercial applications.

The audience for Inorganic Membrane Reactors includes advanced students, industrial and academic researchers, and engineers with an interest in membrane reactors.

Xiaoyao Tan is Professor of Chemical Engineering at Tianjin Polytechnic University, China Currently he teaches Membrane Science and Technology to undergraduate students. He received his PhD from Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 1995, and has been working in the membrane area for more than 15 years. His research interests involve the preparation and characterization of various inorganic membranes such as ceramics, metals, and zeolites for fluid separations/reactions. He has published 120+ research papers in international referred journals, 15 patents and 4 book chapters in the area of inorganic membranes and membrane reactors.

Kang Li is Professor of Chemical Engineering at Imperial College London. His present research interests are in the preparation and characterisation of polymeric and inorganic hollow fibre membranes, fluid separations using membranes, and membrane reactors for energy application and CO2 capture. Kang Li currently leads a research group at Imperial of 2 MSc students, 8 PhD students and 3 post-doctorial research fellows. He has published over 180 research papers in international referred journals, holds five patents, and is the author of a book in the area of ceramic membranes (Ceramic Membranes for Separation and Reaction, John Wiley, 2007).