Carbon dioxide separation and dry reforming of methane for synthesis of syngas by a dual-phase membrane reactor

High‐temperature CO2 selective membranes offer potential for use to separate flue gas and produce a warm, pure CO2 stream as a chemical feedstock. The coupling of separation of CO2 by a ceramic–carbonate dual‐phase membrane with dry reforming of CH4 to produce syngas is reported. CO2 permeation and the dry reforming reaction performance of the membrane reactor were experimentally studied with a CO2–N2 mixture as the feed and CH4 as the sweep gas passing through either an empty permeation chamber or one that was packed with a solid catalyst. CO2 permeation flux through the membrane matches the rate of dry reforming of methane using a 10% Ni/γ‐alumina catalyst at temperatures above 750°C. At 850°C under the reaction conditions, the membrane reactor gives a CO2 permeation flux of 0.17 mL min−1 cm−2, hydrogen production rate of 0.3 mL min−1 cm−2 with a H2 to CO formation ratio of about 1, and conversion of CO2 and CH4, respectively, of 88.5 and 8.1%. © 2013 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 59: 2207–2218, 2013