Synthesis and characterization of a silica-alumina composite membrane and its application in a membrane reactor

Hydrothermally stable silica-alumina composite membranes were synthesized through chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and aluminium tri-sec-butoxide precursor at 923 K on porous alumina supports. The membranes showed high hydrogen permselectivity (order of 10⁻⁷ mol m⁻² s⁻¹ Pa⁻¹) comparable to that of pure silica membranes but with superior hydrothermal stability, and were used in a membrane reactor. The permeation of small gas species (H₂, He, Ne) was well explained by a solid-state diffusion mechanism, involving jumps of the permeating species between solubility sites. The permeation mechanism of large gas molecules (CH₄, CO₂, N₂) was explained by the gas translation mechanism involving large pore defects. Steam methane reforming (SMR) on a Ni/MgO-SiO₂ catalyst was carried out at 923 K in the membrane reactor and in a conventional packed-bed reactor. The membrane contributed to an increase in the hydrogen production rate by the selective extraction of hydrogen from the reaction zone.