ITM Ceramic Membrane Technology to Produce Synthesis Gas

Abstract

Air Products and its partners are developing Ion Transport Membrane (ITM) technology for the production of synthesis gas, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The ITM Syngas process is a breakthrough technology that combines air separation and high-temperature synthesis gas generation processes into a single ceramic membrane reactor, with significant savings in the capital cost of synthesis gas production. Because synthesis gas is a feedstock for a range of different processes, ITM Syngas represents a technology platform that has numerous applications, such as hydrogen, clean fuels and chemicals. ITM ceramic membranes are fabricated from non-porous, mixed-metal oxides and operate with exceptionally high oxygen flux and selectivity when exposed to an oxygen chemical potential gradient at high temperatures. Significant advances have been made in developing and scaling up the ITM Syngas technology. This paper describes the development of commercial-size ceramic membranes and the ITM Syngas reactor system. Recent laboratory and pilot unit test results will also be discussed.