| abstract |
The invention relates to a method for reacting aliphatic hydrocarbons with 1 to 4 C atoms to aromatic hydrocarbons, said method comprising the followings steps: a) reacting a reactant flow E, which contains at least one aliphatic hydrocarbon with 1 to 4 C atoms, in the presence of a catalyst under non-oxidative conditions, to a product flow P which contains aromatic hydrocarbons and hydrogen, and b) electrochemically removing at least part of the hydrogen produced during the reaction from the product flow P by means of a gas-tight membrane electrode assembly which comprises at least one selectively proton-conducting membrane and at least one electrode catalyst on each side of the membrane, at least part of the hydrogen being oxidized on the anode catalyst to protons on the retentate side of the membrane and part of the protons, after passing the membrane and on the permeate side on the cathode catalyst, b1) being reduced to hydrogen when a voltage is applied and part of the protons b2) being reacted with oxygen to water while generating electric power, the oxygen coming from an oxygen-containing flow O which is being contacted with the permeate side of the membrane. |