Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
57591 Catalysis Today 2009 8 Pages PDF
Abstract

A comparative study modifying an ionic oxygen conducting membrane reactor for the oxidative coupling of methane to higher hydrocarbons with 3 different catalytic surface modifications is presented. Dense Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ (BSCFO) membrane disks were wash-coated with a Pt/MgO model catalyst as well as with more efficient Sr/La2O3 and LaSr/CaO catalysts. The role of the catalyst is underlined by the fact that the LaSr/CaO shows that highest yield between 900 and 1000 °C while yields decline for the Sr/La2O3 catalyst at temperatures above 900 °C. The latter observation agrees well with observations on conventional catalytic reactors using hydrocarbon/oxygen co-feeding at lower temperature and seems to relate to the formation of highly reactive oxygen species formed at the La2O3 surface. Operating a LaSr/CaO modified membrane reactor at 950 °C with a CH4 concentration of 34%, a C2-hydrocarbon yield of more than 18% was achieved (at a selectivity of more than 65%). Given the interesting performance, it is obvious that future membrane reactors should employ efficient catalyst systems and development should focus on maximizing the exposure of catalytically modified membrane surfaces.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemical Engineering Catalysis
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