ABSTRACT CTS-9521721 This is a study of the feasibility of using fully densified (nonporous) ion-conducting perovskites as catalytic membranes in membrane reactors for the oxidative coupling of methane. It is a collaborative effort between Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories, who prepares and characterizes the membranes, and Washington State University, which performs the reactor studies. Two membranes will be studied, one a lanthanum-strontium-cobalt-iron-oxygen system, the other a lanthanum-barium-cobalt-iron-oxygen system. Measurements of oxygen permeation and catalytic selectivity are done at elevated pressures. Dynamic X-ray diffraction is used to monitor the stability of the membrane. Oxidative coupling of methane is a process that converts natural gas to a valuable chemical feedstock in a single step. Despite its obvious attractiveness, a cost-effective technology using this approach has been elusive. This project combines advances in catalytic science, reactor design, and new materials to this problem. ***
