International Journal of Research & Review (www.gkpublication.in) 59 Vol.3; Issue: 6; June 2016 International Journal of Research and Review www.ijrrjournal.com E-ISSN: 2349-9788; P-ISSN: 2454-2237 Review Article Research and Studies on Membrane Reactors Sunil J. Kulkarni Datta Meghe College of Engineering, Airoli, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India. Received: 07/06/2016 Revised: 22/06/2016 Accepted: 22/06/2016 ABSTRACT Cost effective technology with compact equipment size is always advantage in process selection. The available technologies can be modified to make them more and more cost effective. Process intensification is one such field which aims at increasing effectiveness of processes in terms of cost, space, efficiency and conversion. Coupling of two unit operations or processes can exhibit excellent results in some processes. Combination of membrane separation with reaction is found to be very effective in many applications. The membrane bioreactors find application in dehydrogenation, hydrolysis and enzyme catalyzed reactions. Current review summarizes studies and research on membrane reactors and membrane bioreactors (MBRs). Key words: Membranes, dehydrogenation, hydrolysis, enzyme, desorption, performance, analysis. INTRODUCTION Chemical processes include reactions and unit operations such as extraction, distillation, leaching, crystallization, drying, humidification and dehumidification etc. The unit operations are used to isolate raw material or for concentrating the final product. The reactors and separators need considerable space and cost. Process intensification includes modifying current technology and combining two processes in order to save cost, time and space. Process intensification by using hydrotropy and cavitation has been investigated. [1-7] Advanced methods such as pervaporation, membrane bioreactors are being used in combination for more effective reaction and separation. [8-10] The results of these investigations are very promising. The reactions such as esterification can be combined with separation to yield effective results. Reactive adsorption, reactive chromatography, reactive extraction, solar distillation, pervaporation and reactive distillation are few processes which combines unit operation with reactions. [11- 14] The immediate separation of product helps in shifting the reaction towards right. Also the savings of equipment cost and space are attractive attributes of these processes. This method needs proper and effective control mechanisms. The combination of membrane separation with reaction is one such concept. The current review summarizes research and studies on membrane bioreactors. RESEARCH AND STUDIES ON MEMBRANE REACTORS McLeary et.al discussed films and membranes based on zeolites. [15] According to them integration of reaction and separation has received attention in last 40 years. The combination results in more compact and less energy intensive processes. It is necessary to apply new techniques for manufacturing light, thin, high flux, defect-free zeolite membranes. The zeolite membranes are useful in oxidative dehydrogenation. Chibane and Djellouli carried out methane steam