Carbon dioxide reforming of methane in a SrCe0.7Zr0.2Eu0.1O3-δ proton conducting membrane reactor

Utilizing CO2 for fuel production holds the promise for reduced carbon energy cycles. In this paper we demonstrate a membrane reactor, integrating catalytic CO2 reforming of methane with in-situ H-2 separation, that results in increased CO2 and CH4 conversion and H-2 production compared to a Ni catalyst alone. The tubular proton-conducting SrCe0.7Zr0.2Eu0.1O3-delta membrane reactor demonstrates that the addition of the membrane improves CO2 conversion, due to in-situ H-2 removal, by 10% and 30% at 900 degrees C for CH4/CO2 = 1/1 and CH4/CO2/H2O = 2/1/1 feed ratios, respectively. It also improves total H-2 production at 900 degrees C by 15% and 18% for CH4/CO2 = 1/1 and CH4/CO2/H2O = 2/1/1, respectively. Further, the H-2/CO in the reactor side effluent can be adjusted for subsequent desired Fischer-Tropsch products by combining CO2 reforming and steam reforming of methane. Copyright (C) 2012, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.