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Title: Dense perovskite membrane reactors for partial oxidation of methane to syngas

Journal Article · · AIChE Journal
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Worcester Polytechnic Inst., MA (United States)

The partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas (syngas, CO + H{sub 2}) was performed in a mixed-conducting perovskite dense membrane reactor at 850 C, in which oxygen was separated from air and simultaneously fed into the methane stream. Steady-state oxygen permeation rates for La{sub 1{minus}x}A{sub x}{prime}Fe{sub 0.8} CO{sub 0.2}O{sub 3{minus}{delta}} perovskite membranes in nonreacting air/helium experiments were in the order of A{sub x}{prime} = Ba{sub 0.8} > Ba{sub 0.6}>Ca{sub 0.6} > Sr{sub 0.6}. Deep oxidation products were obtained from a La{sub 0.2} Ba{sub 0.8} Fe{sub 0.8} Co{sub 0.2} O{sub 3{minus}{delta}} disk-shaped membrane reactor without catalyst, with a 4.6% CH{sub 4} inlet stream. These products were further reformed to syngas when a downstream catalytic bed was added. Packaging the 5% Ni/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} catalyst directly on the membrane reaction-side surface resulted in a slow fivefold increase in O{sub 2} permeation, and a fourfold increase in CH{sub 4} conversion, XRD, EDS, and SEM analyses revealed structure and composition changes on the membrane surfaces. Oxygen continuously transported from the air side appeared to stabilize the membrane interior, and the reactor was operated for up to 850 h.

OSTI ID:
562246
Journal Information:
AIChE Journal, Vol. 43, Issue 11A; Other Information: PBD: 1997
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English