A number of industrially important chemical reactions are limited by equilibrium conversion of reactants. An recent innovation is to combine the reaction and separation steps in a single unit operation known as reactive separation or integrated reactive separation and the process unit is called a multifunctional reactor. This combination has been recognized by the process industries as having favourable economics and as an important means for implementing process intensification for classes of reacting systems.

A mathematical model for such a process was developed based on pressure swing reaction cycles comprising high pressure adsorption, countercurrent depressurisation, countercurrent low pressure desorption and cocurrent repressurisation. The adsorption kinetics is represented by the linear driving force model and adsorption equilibrium is represented by the extended Langmuir model for a multicomponent system. The model was validated using experimental data and optimal reactor operation and configuration were investigated. The benefits and costs for heterogeneous and homogeneous arrangements were compared and implementational issues were evaluated for specific applications. The results obtained on process optimisation for variable reactor operation with industrially important reaction will be presented.