Simulation of a catalytic membrane reactor for oxidative coupling of Methane

Abstract

There is considerable interest in direct and indirect conversion of methane to more valuable products such as basic feedstock and liquid fuel. However, total oxidation of methane leading to useless carbon dioxide and water is thermodynamically favored over the formation of ethane and ethylene, and in addition the desired C{sub 2} products tend to undergo further oxidation. Considerable efforts screening a large number of mainly metal oxide-based catalysts have been made to obtain a suitable one active and especially selective toward the desired C{sub 2} products, and the C{sub 2} yield of up to 30% has been reported. There are few studies regarding the potential advantages of using membrane reactors in the conversion of methane. The authors report here a simulation study showing that using a catalytic membrane reactor would greatly improve the selectivity and yield to C{sub 2} compounds, compared with the conventional cofeed operation.