Partial oxidation of methane in BaCe0.1Co0.4Fe0.5O3−δ membrane reactor

A new perovskite material, BaCe0.1Co0.4Fe0.5O3−δ used as dense oxygen permeable membrane for partial oxidation of methane (POM) reaction was investigated. In order to improve the synergetic effects between membrane and catalyst, LiLaNiO/γ-Al2O3 catalyst was directly packed onto the surface of the membrane to carry out POM. In BaCe0.1Co0.4Fe0.5O3−δ membrane reactor, high oxygen permeation flux, high CH4 conversion and CO selectivity were obtained. At 950 °C, oxygen flux of 9.5 ml cm−2 min−1, CH4 conversion of 99% and CO selectivity of 93% were achieved with a membrane thickness of 1.0 mm. There was an induction process at the initial stage of POM, which was related to the reduction of NiO to Ni0 in LiLaNiO/γ-Al2O3 catalyst. Experiments illustrated that higher reaction temperature would shorten the induction time. During continuously operating for 1000 h at 875 °C, no degradation of performance of the membrane reaction was observed. SEM characterization also demonstrated that the membrane disc maintained an integral structure without any cracks after long-term operation.