Preparation and oxygen permeation properties of SrCo0.9Nb0.1O3−δ hollow fibre membranes

Ultrafine SrCo0.9Nb0.1O3−δ (SCNb) perovskite powders were synthesized by a modified Pechini method using EDTA and citrate acid as chelating agents. Dense SCNb hollow fibre membranes with an asymmetric structure were fabricated via a phase inversion and sintering technique. Oxygen permeation fluxes through the obtained hollow fibre membranes were measured in the temperature range of 500–900 °C under air/helium gradients. The results indicated that the oxygen permeation flux through the SCNb hollow fibre membrane was approximately 9.30 mmol m−2 s−1 at 650 °C when the air feed and the helium sweeping rates were 74.4 μmol s−1 and 44.6 μmol s−1, respectively. The SCNb hollow fibre membranes showed a stable oxygen permeation flux over 240 h at 900 °C with a maximum value reaching 38.10 mmol m−2 s−1 comparing favorable to the performance of other perovskite membranes.

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► SrCo0.9Nb0.1O3−δ perovskite hollow fibre membranes are prepared via a phase inversion and sintering technique for oxygen separation.
► The oxygen permeation flux through the membranes at 650 °C may reach 9.30 mmol m−2 s−1.
► A stable oxygen flux of 38.10 mmol m−2 s−1 can be maintained at 900 °C for over 240 h.