Patent ID: 7513932

Claim:
A hydrocarbon oxidation process comprising (a) providing a planar ceramic membrane reactor assembly comprising a dense layer of mixed-conducting multi-component metal oxide material, wherein the dense layer has a first side and a second side, a support layer comprising porous mixed-conducting multi-component metal oxide material in contact with the first side of the dense layer, and a ceramic channeled support layer in contact with the second side of the dense layer; (b) passing a heated oxygen-containing oxidant feed gas through the ceramic channeled layer and in contact with the second side of the dense layer; (c) permeating oxygen ions through the dense layer and providing oxygen on the first side of the dense layer; (d) contacting a heated hydrocarbon-containing feed gas with the support layer wherein the hydrocarbon-containing feed gas diffuses through the support layer; and (e) reacting the hydrocarbon-containing feed gas with the oxygen to yield a hydrocarbon oxidation product.