Fabrication and performance of a tubular ceria based oxygen transport membrane on a low cost MgO support

A 30 μm thin-film tubular CGO (Ce0.9Gd0.1O1.95−δ) membrane with catalytic layers on both sides has been prepared by dip-coating on a low cost, porous magnesium oxide (MgO) support. The MgO support was fabricated through a thermoplastic extrusion process. Support, thin membrane and catalytic layers were sintered in individual steps at temperatures between 1250 and 1300 °C to achieve a controlled removal of binder and organic additives and to obtain the desired, defect free microstructure. The prepared asymmetric tubular CGO membrane has been tested at elevated temperatures (up to 900 °C) using atmospheric air and N2, H2 for the feed and sweep side respectively. The oxygen permeation was 4 N ml min−1 cm−2 at 850 °C using H2 on one side and air on the other side.