Hydrogen diffusion through a Pd-Ru membrane in the course of methanol dehydrogenation to methyl formate on a copper-containing catalyst

The diffusion of hydrogen through a Pd-Ru membrane placed inside a reactor was studied in the dehydrogenation of methanol to methyl formate on a copper-containing catalyst and when the reaction does not occur. Under the conditions of the catalytic reaction, the membrane was not poisoned with carbon monoxide even at its high concentration, whereas CO rapidly deactivated the membrane when the reaction did not occur. Possible mechanisms of membrane protection are considered.