A dense ceramic membrane reactor has been constructed to exclusively transp
ort oxygen for the partial oxidation of methane (CH4) to syngas (a mixture
of CO and H-2) at temperatures of 850-900 degrees C. H-2 production is enha
nced in a second catalytic reactor through the water gas shift reaction, in
which the CO reacts with steam that is injected into the reactor at a cont
rolled rate to produce CO2 and H-2. Experiments and thermodynamic calculati
ons were used to establish the optimal lower temperature (approximate to 40
0 degrees C) and lower steam-to-CO ratio (approximate to 2) to achieve ther
modynamic efficiency while maximizing H-2 production. No unusual synergisms
were observed by the combination of the two processes and the experimental
results are in good agreement with thermodynamic predictions. (C) 2000 Els
evier Science B.V. All rights reserved.