Novel and ideal zirconium-based dense membrane reactors for partial oxidation of methane to syngas

A novel and ideal dense catalytic membrane reactor for the reaction of partial oxidation of methane to syngas (POM) was constructed from the stable mixed conducting perovskite material of BaCo0.4Fe0.4Zr0.2O3−δ and the catalyst of LiLaNiO/γ-Al2O3. The POM reaction was performed successfully. Not only was a short induction period of 2 h obtained, but also a high catalytic performance of 96–98% CH4 conversion, 98–99% CO selectivity and an oxygen permeation flux of 5.4–5.8 ml cm−2 min−1 (1.9–2.0 μmol m−2 S−1 Pa−1) at 850 °C were achieved. Moreover, the reaction has been steadily carried out for more than 2200 h, and no interaction between the membrane material and the catalyst took place.