Catalytic membrane reactor, methods of making the same and methods of using the same for dehydrogenation reactions

A method of producing an enhanced purity of hydrogen in a chemical conversion process, comprising:

• moving a fluid having hydrogen into an interior volume of a catalytic membrane reactor, wherein said catalytic membrane reactor comprises:
• a ceramic support extending between an inner surface and an outer surface, and wherein said inner surface at least partially defines said interior volume, said ceramic support is impregnated with a metal catalyst, and said ceramic support has a smaller porosity proximate to said outer surface than said inner surface;
• a hydrogen permeable membrane positioned on said outer surface of said ceramic support, wherein said hydrogen permeable membrane at least partially defines an exterior volume of said catalytic membrane reactor;
• and
• reacting said fluid with said metal catalyst in said ceramic support such that such that at least some hydrogen flows through said hydrogen permeable membrane and into a permeate flow in said exterior volume, and a remaining product flows in a retentate flow and out of said interior volume.

A method of producing a catalytic membrane reactor, comprising:

• positioning a ceramic support in a first bath comprising a metal catalyst, and impregnating an outer surface of said ceramic support with said metal catalyst;
• removing said ceramic support from said first bath and drying said ceramic support;
• positioning said ceramic support in a second bath comprising a coating material and plating said outer surface of said ceramic support with said coating material via electroless deposition;
• removing said ceramic support from said second bath and drying said ceramic support;
• and
• soaking an inner surface of said ceramic support with cesium nitrate to impregnate said inner surface of said ceramic support with cesium.