The efficiency of using of the permeable composite membrane (PCM) is demonstrated in the 3-phase reaction of liquid substrate with gaseous hydrogen on solid catalyst (PCM acts as a catalytically active contactor)-hydrogenation of fatty acid triglyceride. PCM provides a good combination of the opposite requirements of mild internal diffusion restrictions, low hydraulic resistance, high thermal conductivity, well-developed gas-liquid interface and high catalyst loading in the reactor volume, and thus assures the control of the course of the catalytic reaction. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.