Direct conversion of methane to aromatics in a catalytic co-ionic membrane reactor. Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Nonoxidative methane dehydroaromatization (MDA: 6CH4 C6H6 + 9H2) using shape-selective Mo/zeolite catalysts is a key technology for exploitation of stranded natural gas reserves by direct conversion into transportable liquids. However, this reaction faces two major issues: The one-pass conversion is limited by thermodynamics, and the catalyst deactivates quickly through kinetically favored formation of coke. We show that integration of an electrochemical BaZrO3-based membrane exhibiting both proton and oxide ion conductivity into an MDA reactor gives rise to high aromatic yields and improved catalyst stability. These effects originate from the simultaneous extraction of hydrogen and distributed injection of oxide ions along the reactor length. Further, we demonstrate that the electrochemical co-ionic membrane reactor enables high carbon efficiencies (up to 80%) that improve the technoeconomic process viability.

published proceedings

  • Science

altmetric score

  • 84.638

author list (cited authors)

  • Morejudo, S. H., Zann, R., Escolstico, S., Yuste-Tirados, I., Malerd-Fjeld, H., Vestre, P. K., ... Kjlseth, C.

citation count

  • 276

complete list of authors

  • Morejudo, SH||Zanón, R||Escolástico, S||Yuste-Tirados, I||Malerød-Fjeld, H||Vestre, PK||Coors, WG||Martínez, A||Norby, T||Serra, JM||Kjølseth, C

publication date

  • August 2016