Patent ID: 8597383

Claim:
A catalytic membrane reactor assembly comprising: a ceramic tubular support having a porous structure; an autothermal reforming (ATR) catalytic structure disposed throughout an inner surface layer of the porous structure of the ceramic tubular support, the ATR catalytic structure comprising mixed metal oxides; a water-gas-shift (WGS) catalytic structure also disposed throughout the inner surface layer of the porous structure of the ceramic tubular support, the WGS catalytic structure comprising mixed metal oxides, wherein the ATR and WGS catalytic structures are operable to react with a feed stream comprising liquid hydrocarbon, steam, and an oxygen source to form hydrogen through a combination of autothermal reforming and water-gas-shift reactions; a γ-alumina layer disposed on an outer surface of the ceramic tubular support, the γ-alumina layer having a porous structure; and a membrane layer disposed on an outer surface of the γ-alumina layer, the membrane layer being selectively permeable to hydrogen, wherein the catalytic membrane reactor assembly is operable to produce a permeate stream and a retentate stream, wherein the permeate stream consists essentially of hydrogen gas, and the retentate stream comprises carbon dioxide.