| abstract |
A membrane reactor (10) for gas or gas/liquid reaction comprising a reaction chamber (12), a permeable membrane (14) in the reaction chamber, a catalyst supported in the permeable membrane, a gaseous reactant inlet (46) to the reaction chamber opening to one side of the membrane and a liquid inlet (16) to the reaction chamber opening to the other side of the membrane, means (52) to supply pressurized gaseous reactant to the gaseous reactant inlet, a supply line (30, 32, 34) for the liquid connected to the liquid inlet, and wherein the pressurized gaseous reactant supply means (52) is also connected (54) to the liquid supply line whereby to pressurize the liquid and at least substantially balance the pressure across the membrane (14). The invention also extends to a method of conducting gas or gas liquid reaction in a membrane reactor wherein the liquid supplied to the other side of the membrane (14) is pressurized by the pressurized gaseous reactant which is supplied to the one side of the membrane to at least substantially balance the pressure across the membrane. |