The tubular inorganic catalytic membrane (TICM) reactor is a novel multiphase solution for advanced chemical or environmental technologies. The advantages of the use of this technology are discussed with reference to two types of applications: (i) C water remediation technologies by catalytic hydrogenation (nitrate removal and chlorinated hydrocarbon dehalogenation) and (ii) H2O2, synthesis by H-2 + O-2 reaction, both occurring over Pd-type catalysts supported over porous inorganic membranes. Some examples of the behaviour of these catalytic membranes are given in long-term tests in nitrate reduction, in chloroform dehalogenation and in H2O2 synthesis. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.