Electro-catalytic membrane reactors and the development of bipolar membrane technology

J.H. Balster, Dimitrios Stamatialis, Matthias Wessling

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

62 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Membrane reactors are currently under extensive research and development. Hardly any concept, however, is realized yet in practice. Frequently, forgotten as membrane reactors are electro-catalytic membrane reactors where electrodes perform chemical conversations and membranes separate the locations of conversion. We review first a mature electromembrane technology: the chlor-alkali electrolysis. A second example is the polymer-electrolyte fuel cells (FC) as an emerging technology, which carries the potential to dramatically change society¿s energy infrastructure. Finally, we extensively describe a technology where the membrane itself is catalytically effective, splitting water into protons and hydroxyl ions: bipolar ion-exchange membrane technology.
Original languageUndefined
Pages (from-to)1115-1127
JournalChemical engineering and processing : process intensification
Volume43
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2004

Keywords

  • METIS-222162
  • IR-49556

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