Research On a Ceramics Membrane Reactor for Natural Gas Conversion

Abstract

We explore the new concept for a ceramics membrane reactor including the investigation of the nickel-based catalysts for methane conversion into synthesis gas and the exploitation of an oxide ionic and electronic mixed conductor. When Ca0.8Sr0.2Ti1−xFe x O3−α exhibiting the ionic and electronic mixed conduction was used as a support material of Ni based catalyst, coke formation over the catalyst under the methane conversion with air or carbon dioxide was strongly depended on the iron (III) ion contents, x. From the relationship between the amount of carbon deposited on the catalyst and the mixed conduction in support oxide materials, it was suggested that the self-migration of lattice oxygen inside the support regulated by the balance between the oxide ionic and electronic conductivities played an important role to prevent from accumulating the deposited carbon over the catalysts. In addition, we demonstrated the methane conversion into synthesis gas at 1173 K with one component ceramics membrane reactor constructed with the same type of perovskite-type oxide for both the catalyst supported and mixed conductor.