This project is oriented towards the improvement in selectivity, yield, compacted character, continuity, stability and safety of the following four catalytic (or separation) processes with increasing industrial interest: a) catalytic dehydrogenation of propane to propene over Pt/Al₂O₃, b) idem, for butane to butenes (mainly butadiene), c) reductive oxidation of benzene to phenol over Pt-V₂O₅/ SiO₂ catalyst, and d) hydrogen separation in H₂/CH₄ mixtures (coming from natural gas decomposition), using several metal oxides, all of them with continuous catalyst or metal oxide regeneration.
For this end two new fluidized bed reactor configuration, developed by the research team, will be used: TZFBR (Two zone fluidized bed reactor) and ICFBR (Interconnected fluidized bed reactor) in which the solid goes through alternate steps of oxidation and reduction by means of its circulation between separated zones in the bed.

Project: CTQ2004-01721/PPQ