Process optimization and modeling of membrane reactor using self-sufficient catalysis and separation of difunctional ceramic composite membrane to produce methyl laurate

Difunctional hollow fiber ceramic composite membranes with self-sufficient catalysis and separation properties were successfully fabricated through thermal imidization, followed by dip-coating method. The structure, separation and catalysis properties of the fabricated difunctional membrane were investigated by SEM, pervaporation dehydration of methanol aqueous solution, and esterification of methanol and lauric acid to produce methyl laurate in a membrane reactor, respectively. The results showed that the obtained difunctional membrane was characterized by a multilayer structure: a sponge-like support layer, a dense separation layer and a porous catalysis layer. The porous catalysis layer had little effect on separation property. But it provided a large specific surface area for perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA), resulting in a good catalytic effect. The obtained difunctional membrane also showed an excellent stability and repeatability. The optimized operating conditions were methanol to lauric acid ratio of 10:1, reaction temperature of 70 °C, and catalyst dosage of 1.0 wt% in this work. A mathematical model was established to describe this experimental process and the predicted results agreed well with the experimental results.