Dehydrogenation Coupling of Methane Using Catalyst-Loaded Proton-Conducting Perovskite Hollow Fiber Membranes

Catalytic dehydrogenation coupling of methane (DCM) represents an effective way to convert natural gas to more useful C(2) products (C(2)H(6), C(2)H(4)). In this work, BaCe(0.85)Tb(0.05)Co(0.1)O(3−δ) (BCTCo) perovskite hollow fiber membranes were fabricated by the combined phase inversion and sintering method. SrCe(0.95)Yb(0.05)O(3−δ) (SCYb) perovskite oxide was loaded as a catalyst onto the inner hollow fiber membrane surface, which promoted the CH(4) conversion and the C(2) hydrocarbon selectivity during the DCM reaction. The introduction of steam into the methane feed gas mixture elevated the C(2) selectivity and yield due to the alleviation of coke deposition. Switching N(2) to air as the sweep gas further increased the C(2) selectivity and yield. However, the conversion of methane was limited by both the low permeability of the membrane and the insufficient catalytic activity of the catalyst, leading to low C(2) yield.