Published online by Cambridge University Press: 10 February 2011
Methane conversion to synthesis gas in membrane reactors that use dense mixed electronic-ionic conducting membranes for oxygen separation has received much recent attention. The oxygen flux achievable in these reactors depends on a combination of the bulk diffusion rate for oxygen transport and the surface reaction rate for oxygen activation and either recombination or reaction with methane. Here we compare recent oxygen permeation data for tubular membranes of La0.5Sr0.5Fe0.8Ga0.2O3-δ with our previous results for SrCO0.8Fe0.2O3-δ, SrFeCO0.5O3.25-δ. The pressure dependence of the oxygen permeation flux has been measured at different temperatures and used to determine the relative importance of bulk and surface kinetics for these oxides.