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Abstract

A ceramic membrane element for an oxygen separator is formed from a ceramic material represented by the structure: A.sub.1-x A'.sub.x B.sub.1-y B'.sub.y O.sub.3-z where A is a lanthanide element; A' is a suitable lanthanide element dopant; B is selected from the group consisting of titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, zinc and mixtures thereof; B' is copper; x is between 0.4 and 0.8; y is between 0.1 and 0.9; and z is>0 (and determined by stoichiometry). When B includes cobalt in an amount greater than 0.1, the included iron content is less than 0.05. The membrane element selectively transports oxygen ions therethrough at a relatively low temperature, with a flux detected at about 600.degree. C. This enables the oxygen separator to be operated at lower temperatures than convention separators that frequently have operating temperatures in excess of 900.degree. C. Mechanical stability may be enhanced by the addition of a second phase to the ceramic.

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