• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.641-647
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• 2005

The partial oxidation of methane is one of important processes for hydrogen production. As a membrane reactor, palladium-silver (Pd-Ag) alloy membrane prepared by electroless plating technique was employed for partial oxidation of methane. The experimental variables were reaction temperature, $O_2/CH_4$ mole ratio, $CH_4$ feed rate, and $N_2$ sweep gas flow rate. The methane conversions increased with the reaction temperatures in the range of 350 to $730^{\circ}C$. The highest methane conversion and CO selectivity were obtained at the condition of $O_2/CH_4$ mole ratio of 0.5 and $730^{\circ}C$ using commercially available nickel/alumina catalyst. The Pd-Ag membrane reactor showed higher methane conversions, 10~40% higher, compared to those in a traditional reactor.