DEMCAMER · Design and Manufacturing of Catalytic Membrane Reactors by developing new nano-architectured catalytic and selective membrane materials

The DEMCAMER project proposes an answer to the paradigm met by the European Chemical Industry: increase the production rate while keeping the same products quality and reducing both production costs and environmental impacts. Through the implementation of a novel process intensification approach consisting on the combination of reaction and separation in a “Catalytic Membrane Reactor” single unit.The aim of DEMCAMER project is to develop innovative multifunctional Catalytic Membrane Reactors (CMR) based on new nano-architectured catalysts and selective membranes materials to improve their performance, cost effectiveness (i.e.; reducing the number of steps) and sustainability (lower environmental impact and use of new raw materials) over four selected chemical processes ((Autothermal Reforming (ATR), Fischer-Tropsch (FTS), Water Gas Shift (WGS), and Oxidative Coupling of Methane (OCM)) for pure hydrogen, liquid hydrocarbons and ethylene production.The DEMCAMER scheduled workplan will comprise activities related to the whole product chain: i.e. development of materials/components (membranes, supports, seals, catalyst,..) through integration/validation at lab-scale, until development/validation of four pilot scale CMRs prototypes. Additionally, three research lines dealing with: 1) the collection of specifications and requirements, 2) modelling and simulation of the developed materials and processes, and 3) assessment of environmental, health & safety issues -in relation to the new intensified chemical processes- will be carried out..For a maximum impact on the European industry this research, covering the complete value chain of catalytic membrane reactors, can only be carried out with a multidisciplinary and complementary team having the right expertise, including top level European Research Institutes and Universities (8 RES) working together with representative top industries (4 SME, 5 IND) in different sectors (from raw materials to chemical end-users).