In a first stage of a methane conversion system, at least some methane (CH.sub.4) in an input gas flow stream can be converted into C.sub.2 hydrocarbons, hydrogen gas (H.sub.2), and aromatics to provide a first processed stream. The conversion can be direct non-oxidative methane conversion (DNMC). At least some of the aromatics can be removed from the first processed stream to provide a second processed stream. In a second stage of the methane conversion system, at least some of the H.sub.2 can be removed from the second processed stream to provide a recycle stream. The recycle stream can be returned to the first stage of the methane conversion system for further conversion of methane and removal of aromatics and H.sub.2 products.

The present invention relates to production processes for reactive monomer species. The method described herein may be used in a variety of reactive monomer production processes to optimize the use of polymerization inhibitor compounds, which may lead to further advantages such as debottlenecking or elimination of process plant separation unit(s). The method provides for the separation of oligomeric/polymeric species, inhibitor compounds and reactive monomer, optionally in the presence of unreacted raw materials or solvent(s), within the production process by means of membrane filtration, particularly through the use of solvent stable membranes, and in particular by applying organic solvent nanofiltration membranes.

In a first stage of a methane conversion system, at least some methane (CH.sub.4) in an input gas flow stream can be converted into C.sub.2 hydrocarbons, hydrogen gas (H.sub.2), and aromatics to provide a first processed stream. The conversion can be direct non-oxidative methane conversion (DNMC). At least some of the aromatics can be removed from the first processed stream to provide a second processed stream. In a second stage of the methane conversion system, at least some of the H.sub.2 can be removed from the second processed stream to provide a recycle stream. The recycle stream can be returned to the first stage of the methane conversion system for further conversion of methane and removal of aromatics and H.sub.2 products.

A catalytic membrane composite that includes porous supported catalyst particles durably enmeshed in a porous fibrillated polymer membrane is provided. The porous fibrillated polymer membrane may be manipulated to take the form of a tube, disc, or diced tape and used in multiphase reaction systems. The supported catalyst particles are composed of at least one finely divided metal catalyst dispersed on a porous support substrate. High catalytic activity is gained by the effective fine dispersion of the finely divided metal catalyst such that the metal catalyst covers the support substrate and/or is interspersed in the pores of the support substrate. In some embodiments, the catalytic membrane composite may be introduced to a stirred tank autoclave reactor system, a continuous flow reactor system, or a Parr Shaker reaction system and used to effect the catalytic reaction.

The present disclosure relates to a method for forming a transport mechanism for transporting at least one of a gas or a liquid. The method may comprise using a 3D printing operation to form the mechanism with an inlet and an outlet, and controlling the 3D printing operation to create the mechanism as an engineered surface structure formed in a layer-by-layer process. The method may further comprise controlling the 3D printing operation such that the engineered surface structure includes a plurality of cells propagating periodically in three dimensions, with non-intersecting, non-flat, continuously curving wall portions which form two non-intersecting domains, and where the wall portions have openings forming a plurality of flow paths extending in three orthogonal dimensions throughout from the inlet to the outlet, and such that the engineered cellular structure has wall portions having a mean curvature other than zero.

The current disclosure is directed to a hydrogen-storage system that employs catalytic dehydrogenation of low-molecular-weight amines in a hydrogen reactor. The hydrogen-storage system comprises aliphatic amines and di-amines as organic carriers that store hydrogen covalently, a hydrogen reactor that releases and separates hydrogen gas from the carrier, and metal or metal-oxide catalysts that promote a dehydrogenation reaction to release hydrogen. In certain implementations, a metal or metal-oxide catalyst may be carried on high-surface-area support materials, such as gamma-alumina and metal-organic-framework materials, to enhance catalytic properties. The hydrogen reactor may be a packed-bed reactor, a monolith reactor, or a flow-through hydrogen-membrane reactor. In one implementation, the flow-through hydrogen-membrane reactor comprises an inlet through which the organic hydrogen carrier flows into the reactor, a hydrogen-separation membrane selectively permeable to hydrogen, a recirulation outlet for removing unspent organic carrier, and a hydrogen outlet for releasing hydrogen and reaction byproducts. The spent organic carrier are collected and hydrogenated to regenerate the original fuel.

The present invention relates to production processes for reactive monomer species. The method described herein may be used in a variety of reactive monomer production processes to optimise the use of polymerisation inhibitor compounds, which may lead to further advantages such as debottlenecking or elimination of process plant separation unit(s). The method provides for the separation of oligomeric/polymeric species, inhibitor compounds and reactive monomer, optionally in the presence of unreacted raw materials or solvent(s), within the production process by means of membrane filtration, particularly through the use of solvent stable membranes, and in particular by applying organic solvent nanofiltration membranes.

The invention relates to a method particularly for reacting phosgene with compounds that contain hydroxyl, thiol, amino and/or formamide groups, comprising the steps of: (I) providing a reactor which has a first reaction chamber (300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350) and a second reaction chamber (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260), the first and the second reaction chambers being separated from one another by means of a porous carbon membrane (100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150); (II) providing carbon monoxide and chlorine in the first reaction chamber; and simultaneously (III) providing a compound containing hydroxyl, thiol, amino and/or formamide groups in the second reaction chamber. The porous carbon membrane is configured to catalyse the reaction of carbon monoxide and chlorine to obtain phosgene, and to allow this formed phosgene to pass into the second reaction chamber. The invention also relates to a reactor that is suitable for carrying out the claimed method.

The invention relates to a method particularly for reacting phosgene with compounds that contain hydroxyl, thiol, amino and/or formamide groups, comprising the steps of: (I) providing a reactor which has a first reaction chamber (300, 310, 320, 330, 340, 350) and a second reaction chamber (200, 210, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260), the first and the second reaction chambers being separated from one another by means of a porous carbon membrane (100, 110, 120, 130, 140, 150); (II) providing carbon monoxide and chlorine in the first reaction chamber; and simultaneously (III) providing a compound containing hydroxyl, thiol, amino and/or formamide groups in the second reaction chamber. The porous carbon membrane is configured to catalyze the reaction of carbon monoxide and chlorine to obtain phosgene, and to allow this formed phosgene to pass into the second reaction chamber. The invention also relates to a reactor that is suitable for carrying out the claimed method.

We describe vortical thin layer film flow along a spiral channel designed to improve mass and heat transfer efficiency for a multitude of physicochemical reactions and processes. Spiral channels, commonly augmented by centrifugal rotation, support rapid reaction between one or more fluids in a given channel. Dean vortices generate screw-shaped patterns processing axially in the channel, repeatedly refreshing radial interfaces. Fluids self-align, self-assemble, stable, controllable, exhibit thin film geometry. Multiple discrete lamellae can flow with independent velocity separated by density and may be soluble or insoluble in one another. Membranes separating spirals allow other interactions. Energy can be provided and extracted from each flow. Flows can enter or exit independently along the channel length. The pressure within each channel is controlled even when operated at the liquid's vapor pressure. The device is scalable to include a multiplicity of flows in a multiplicity of centrifugally rotating chambers.