Patent ID: 8419827

Claim:
A method for the operation of an ion transport membrane oxidation system comprising (a) introducing one or more reactant gases into a reactant zone of the ion transport membrane oxidation system, wherein the one or more reactant gases comprise at least methane and carbon dioxide; (b) introducing an oxygen-containing gas into an oxidant zone of the ion transport membrane oxidation system; (c) permeating oxygen from the oxidant zone through an ion transport membrane into the reactant zone and reacting the oxygen therein with one or more components in the reactant gases; and (d) maintaining the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in the reactant gas flowing into the reactant zone to be less than a critical threshold carbon dioxide partial pressure, p CO2 *, wherein p CO2 * is defined as a carbon dioxide partial pressure above which the material in the ion transport membrane reacts with carbon dioxide and decomposes.