Oxidative Coupling of Methane in a BCFZ Perovskite Hollow Fiber Membrane Reactor

A membrane reactor that incorporated hollow fiber in combination with an established catalyst was used for the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM). A perovskite membrane of the composition BaCo x Fe y Zr z O 3−δ (BCFZ, x + y + z = 1) allows a controlled oxygen feed into the reactor over its axial length. Using this novel hollow fiber membrane reactor with a 2 wt % Mn/5 wt % Na 2 WO 4 on SiO 2 catalyst as a packed bed around the fiber, oxygen separation from air and C 2 formation could be established at 800 °C with long-term stability. The highest C 2 selectivity of ∼75% was observed at a methane conversion of 6% with a C 2 H 4:C 2 H 6 ratio of 2:1. The highest C 2 H 4:C 2 H 6 ratio of 4:1 and maximum C 2 yield of 17% was obtained at 50% C 2 selectivity. It is known from the literature that such results can be obtained without a catalyst in a similar membrane reactor only at temperatures 150 °C higher.