Method to remove ammonia using a proton-conducting ceramic membrane

An apparatus and method for decomposing NH3. A fluid containing NH3 is passed in contact with a tubular membrane that is a homogeneous mixture of a ceramic and a first metal, with the ceramic being selected from one or more of a cerate having the formula of M'Ce1-x M''3-delta, zirconates having the formula M'Zr1-xM''O3-delta, stannates having the formula M'Sn1-xM'O3-delta, where M' is a group IIA metal, M'' is a dopant metal of one or more of Ca, Y, Yb, In, Nd, Gd or mixtures thereof and delta is a variable depending on the concentration of dopant and is in the range of from 0.001 to 0.5, the first metal is a group VIII or group IB element selected from the group consisting of Pt, Ag, Pd, Fe, Co, Cr, Mn, V, Ni, Au, Cu, Rh, Ru and mixtures thereof. The tubular membrane has a catalytic metal on the side thereof in contact with the fluid containing NH3 which is effective to cause NH3 to decompose to N2 and H2. When the H2 contacts the membrane Hions are formed which pass through the membrane driving the NH3 decomposition toward completion.