Asymmetric tubular CaTi0.6Fe0.15Mn0.25O3-δ membranes: Membrane architecture and long-term stability

Abstract

Three architectures of asymmetric tubular oxygen transport membranes (OTM) based on CaTi0.6Fe0.15Mn0.25O3-δ were fabricated with various thicknesses of the tubular porous supports and the dense membrane layers. This was achieved by a two-step firing method combining water based extrusion and dip-coating. The oxygen flux of the tubular membranes was characterized as a function of temperature and oxygen partial pressure on both feed and sweep sides for the different architectures. The flux exhibits different functional dependencies with respect to the oxygen partial pressure gradient and the membrane architecture. Numerical simulations using a Dusty-gas model were conducted to evaluate the effect of the porous support microstructure and thickness on oxygen partial pressure gradient inside the porous media. Results from this work were used to establish dependency of the flux with respect to bulk transport properties of the material, surface kinetics and architecture of the porous support. Furthermore, long-term stability of the produced tubular asymmetric membrane operated in CO2-containing atmospheres was assessed over half a year. The membrane exhibited a stable oxygen flux without showing significant flux degradation.