Oxygen permeation and oxidative coupling of methane in membrane reactor: A new facile synthesis method for selective perovskite catalyst

A dense membrane of La0.6Sr0.4Co0.8Fe0.2O3-delta (LSCF) perovskite was prepared by a new chelating agent, ethylene diamine N,N,N',N'-tetra N-acety) diamine (EDTNAD). As a potent ligand, EDTNAD provided a facile one-step method to form complexes of the four metal ions, simultaneously. The oxygen permeation flux through the pure perovskite LSCF dense membrane was measured over temperature range of 1073-1223 K, thickness of 0.7-1.0 mm and oxygen partial pressure of 0.1-1.0 bar. Oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction using LSCF disk in the atmospheric membrane reactor and over the temperature range of 1073-1173 K showed a C-2 selectivity of 100% and C-2 yield of 5.01 % at 1153 K. Furthermore, OCM reaction data of the membrane reactor were discussed and compared with those of the fixed bed using the same perovskite powder as the catalyst. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.