Methane coupling by membrane reactor, Quarterly technical progress report, September 1994--December 24, 1994

Abstract

Experimental studies presented in this report discuss the performance of porous VYCOR membrane reactors in which the oxidative coupling of methane was carried out in an excess of oxygen. This was accomplished by shortening the porous section of the membrane reactor and operating at lower W/F ratios. Results are also discussed from experiments in which methane gas flow was metered in from the high pressure shell side into the oxygen stream on the tube side of the membrane reactor. These studies indicated that the presence of gas phase oxygen downstream to the catalyst bed was detrimental for the C{sub 2} selectivity in the methane coupling reaction. Dense membrane synthesis and characterization results are presented which describe new approaches to dense membrane synthesis. Modifications to the 40 Angstrom pore diameter gamma alumina membranes to enhance their stability and pore filling of micron size pores on alpha alumina supports are discussed. Sr{sub 0.8}La{sub 0.2}FeO{sub 3}, an oxygen conducting perovslcite synthesized in the Microfluidizer showed interesting DSC (Differential Scanning Calorimetry) and TGA (Thermo Gravimetric Analysis) spectra that indicated a change in the crystal structure at relatively moderate temperatures of 150{degrees}C and 350{degrees}C. This report also presents details of the design and experimental set-up of a catalytic membrane reactor in which the porous membrane is doped with the active catalyst and methane coupling occurs as the reactant gases pass through the membrane pores.