Hydrocarbon partial oxidation process

A continuous process for producing hydrogen and carbon monoxide by the partial oxidation of at least one organic compound selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbons, oxygen-containing hydrocarbons and mixtures thereof, comprising the steps:

• (a) contacting at least one oxygen-selective mixed conductor in particulate form selected from the group consisting of (1) perovskite-type ceramics having the structural formula A.sub.1-x M.sub.x BO.sub.3-.delta., where A is an ion of a metal of Groups 3A and 3B of the periodic table of elements or mixtures thereof;
• M is an ion of a metal of Groups 1A and 2A of the periodic table or mixtures thereof;
• B is an ion of a d-block transition metal of the periodic table or mixtures thereof;
• x varies from 0 to 1;
• and .delta. is the deviation from stoichiometric composition resulting from the substitution of ions of metals of M for ions of metals of A;
• (2) ceramic substances selected from the group consisting of Bi.sub.2 O.sub.3, ZrO.sub.2, CeO.sub.2, ThO.sub.2, HfO.sub.2 and mixtures of these, the ceramic substance being doped with CaO, rare earth metal oxides or mixtures of these;
• (3) brownmillerite oxides;
• and (4) mixtures of any of these with an oxygen-containing gas in an adsorption zone at a temperature in the range of about 300 to about 1400.degree. C. and an absolute pressure in the range of about 0.5 to about 50 bara, thereby producing at least partially oxygen-saturated mixed conductor;
• (b) contacting said at least one organic compound with said at least partially oxygen-saturated mixed conductor in a reaction zone at a temperature in the range of about 300 to about 1,400.degree. C., thereby partially oxidizing said at least one hydrocarbon and producing product gas comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide or mixtures of these, and at least partially depleting the mixed conductor of oxygen;
• and
• (c) recycling the at least partially oxygen-depleted mixed conductor to said adsorption zone.