Perspective-Oxygen Separation Technology Based on Liquid-Oxide Electrochemical Membranes

Ion transport membrane (ITM) technology is a key perspective for efficient oxygen separation. At the present time, semi-industrial modules based on ceramic ITMs produce oxygen of 98.9%-99.9% purity. In order to improve the oxygen purity, we suggest using newly developed liquid-oxide ITMs with a record oxygen selectivity (O-2/N-2 > 10(5)). Along with the highest oxygen selectivity, these membranes exhibit competitive oxygen permeability and could be successfully used for ultrahigh purity oxygen separation. Here we review the advantages and future prospects of liquid-oxide ITMs for a potentially disruptive technology which will provide improvement in oxygen purity and energy efficiency. (C) 2020 The Electrochemical Society (ECS). Published on behalf of ECS by IOP Publishing Limited.