Dual utilization of greenhouse gases to produce C2+ hydrocarbons and syngas in a hydrogen-permeable membrane reactor

The direct utilization of CH4 and CO2 to simultaneously produce C2+ hydrocarbons (C2 and aromatics) and syngas (CO and H2) on opposite sides of a mixed ionic-electronic conducting SrCe0.7Zr0.2Eu0.1O3-δ membrane reactor is demonstrated. On one side (interior) of the membrane reactor, direct non-oxidative methane conversion (DNMC) over an iron/silica catalyst produces C2+ hydrocarbons and H2. On the other side (outer surface) of the membrane, permeated hydrogen (driving the DNMC reaction) reacts with a CO2 sweep gas to form CO and water via the reverse water gas shift (RWGS) reaction. This novel single hydrogen-permeable membrane reactor simultaneously addresses both reduction of greenhouse gas (CO2 and CH4) emissions as well as production of value-added hydrocarbon products (C2+, CO, and H2) with in situ gas separation.