This study demonstrates the proof-of-principle of using a membrane reactor to enhance acrylic production via oxidative dehydration of glycerol. The performance of the membrane reactor was compared with that of a conventional packed-bed reactor in terms of key reaction parameters. The dehydration reaction was carried out over the HZSM-5 (SAR-200) catalyst, followed by oxidation over the Ortho-MoVO catalyst. A design of experiments and optimisation strategy is applied to maximise acrylic acid selectivity by varying temperature, oxygen-to-glycerol molar ratio, gas hourly space velocity (GSHV), and feed-to-membrane ratio. Testing was carried out using up to 30 g of catalysts (diluted with an additional 120 g of solid inert). The membrane reactor outperforms the conventional reactor, achieving a maximum acrylic acid selectivity of 58.7% under optimised conditions (280 °C, 1935 h −1 GHSV, 14:1 oxygen-to-glycerol ratio, and 50:50 feed-to-membrane ratio). The superior performance of the membrane reactor is attributed to controlled oxygen distribution via the membrane, which maintains locally less oxygen partial pressure in line with first-order kinetics, resulting in improved net acrylic acid selectivity by 10% compared to a packed bed reactor. The major by-products are acetic acid, formic acid and CO x . Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of the intensified membrane reactor process for added value chemical and their route towards future industrial applications. • Glycerol-to-acrylic acid is tested in a single intensified dual-bed membrane reactor. • 30 g of catalyst (total) operated on stream up to 28 h at constant performance • Optimal conditions are identified at 280 °C, GSHV of 1838 h −1 and O 2 -to-glycerol ratio (mol) of 14. • Acrylic acid yield of 58.7% in case of the membrane-to-feed ratio (air) of 50:50 • Membrane reactor outperforms traditional packed bed reactor by 10.3%.
Pawanipagar et al. (Sun,) studied this question.