Coated diffusion membrane and its use

A process for the dehydrogenation of a hydrocarbon comprising effecting, in the presence of a membrane, said dehydrogenation of said hydrocarbon under dehydrogenation conditions and at a temperature in the range of about 800.degree. to about 1300.degree. F. to produce an unsaturated hydrocarbon and hydrogen in a reaction zone;

• wherein said membrane is selectively permeable to said hydrogen;
• wherein said hydrogen produced during said dehydrogenation is continuously removed from said reaction zone by diffusion through said membrane;
• wherein said membrane comprises (a) a member of the group consisting of palladium and palladium alloys, and (b) at least one metal selected from the group consisting of the transition metals of Group IVB, Group VB and Group VIB of the Periodic Table of Elements;
• and wherein the surface of (a) is coated with (b).