Dehydrogenation of methanol was performed over copper-silica catalyst. Methyl formate decomposition to carbon monoxide and hydrogen was considered as a main side reaction. Tubular and membrane reactors were compared theoretically in terms of efficiency of the process. For this purpose, a two-dimensional non-isothermal stationary mathematical model of the catalytic membrane reactor was developed and applied. The reaction of methanol dehydrogenation (in a tube side) was conjugated with hydrogen oxidation reaction (in a shell side). Conjugation of the processes was found to increase the methanol conversion up to 87% and achieve the methyl formate yield as high as 80% at 125 degrees C. The impact of various parameters on the process characteristics was studied using the developed mathematical model.