Comparison of two nanofiltration membrane reactors for a model reaction of olefin metathesis achieved in toluene

Murielle Rabiller-Baudry (1) , Ghassan Nasser (1) , Thierry Renouard (1) , David Delaunay (1) , Martin Camus (1)

1 ISCR - Institut des Sciences Chimiques de Rennes

The recent commercialisation of nanofiltration membranes resistant toward organic solvents is a real opportunity for fine chemistry. This study deals with different ways of integration of organic solvent nanofiltration for a specific type of reactions known as olefin metathesis and shows the use of two nanofiltration membrane reactors both running in cross-flow filtration mode (0.1 m s- 1). They are used either in semi-continuous or continuous mode. A model ring closing metathesis reaction is chosen for the demonstration. A commercially available pre-catalyst, namely Grubbs-Hoveyda II, as well as a commercial polyimide membrane (Starmem 122, MWCO 220 g mol- 1) are used. Firstly, nanofiltration of the single pre-catalyst allows establishing that the highest retention is obtained with a 40 bar pressure. Secondly, this pressure is used with the two membrane reactors before testing other conditions. Finally, interests and limitations of the two reactors are discussed.

Keywords: Organic solvent nanofiltration; Membrane reactor; Olefin metathesis; Organo-metallic catalyst; Grubbs-Hoveyda II pre-catalyst

Domains: Chemical Sciences; Chemical engineering; Chemical Sciences; Catalysis

Murielle Rabiller-Baudry, Ghassan Nasser, Thierry Renouard, David Delaunay, Martin Camus. Comparison of two nanofiltration membrane reactors for a model reaction of olefin metathesis achieved in toluene. Separation and Purification Technology, 2013, 116, pp.46-60. ⟨10.1016/j.seppur.2013.04.052⟩. ⟨hal-00841224⟩