An experimental study on the application of polymer membranes to the catalytic decomposition of MTBE (methyl tert.-butyl ether)

In this experimental study, the methyl tert.-butyl ether (MTBE) decomposition was carried out in various inert membrane reactors composed of H₃PW₂O₄₀ and a polymer membrane. Polycarbonate (PC), polyarylate (PA) and cellulose acetate (CA) membranes were used in the membrane reactor. It was revealed that all the tested polymer membranes showed larger permeability of methanol than that of either MTBE or isobutene, and the membrane reactor showed better performance than the corresponding fixed bed reactor. The perm-selectivity of methanol/MTBE was in the order of CA > PC > PA, and the permeation ratio of product/MTBE was in the order of CA > PA > PC. Among the membrane reactors tested CA membrane reactor showed the best performance. The enhanced performance of the membrane reactor was mainly due to the selective permeation of methanol that made a methanol-deficient phase suppressing MTBE synthesis reaction in the reversible reaction.