Dense Ceramic Membranes for Separation and Reaction

This article presents a patent review on recent development of dense ceramic membranes for gas separation and catalytic chemical reaction. After a basic introduction of membrane materials including their composition, structure and property, a short discussion on the correlation between material structure and property as well as strategies for new material development and screening is presented. The main part of this patent review provides an intensive discussion on the progress achieved up to early 2007. Both oxygen and hydrogen separation together with some examples related catalytic chemical reactions are summarized. Current problems of dense ceramic membranes and membrane reactors are addressed and future technology challenges are also outlined.