Abstract
In this work, we investigated the application of ion transport membranes (ITM) in the co-production of hydrogen (H2) and ethylene (C2H4) through water (H2O) splitting and ethane (C2H6) oxidative dehydrogenation, respectively, using BaFe0.9Zr0.1O3-δ (BFZ) mixed ionic-electronic conducting (MIEC) materials. Experimental measurements showed that a 1.1mm thick BFZ membrane exhibited an oxygen flux (JO2) of ≈ 2.0 µmole/cm2/sec when operating at T=900°C with inlet steam mole fraction at the feed side equal to XH2O=50% and inlet ethane mole fraction at the fuel side equal to XC2H6=10%. Under the same conditions, ethane conversion and selectivity to ethylene were 95% and 83%, respectively. Lowering the temperature to T=850°C decreased JO2 to ≈ 1.0 µmole/cm2/sec and conversion of ethane to 79%, but the selectivity to ethylene increased to 93%. The proposed technology shows significant performance advantages compared to traditional ethane cracking and hence is a promising method for chemical conversion processes.