In this study, we proposed coupling the thermal decomposition of carbon dioxide (CO2 -> CO + 1/2O(2)) with the partial oxidation of methane (POM) to syngas (CH4 + 1/2O(2) -> CO + 2H(2)) in a dense mixed-conducting membrane reactor, in which the reaction of CO2 decomposition took place in one side of the membrane and the POM reaction occurred in the other side of the membrane simultaneously (or methane reacted with oxygen that was permeated through the membrane from the CO2 decomposition, to produce H-2 and CO over supported transition metal catalysts). A perovskite-type oxygen-permeable membrane of SrCo0.4Fe0.5Zr0.1O3-delta (SCFZ) was used for the membrane reactor. The effects of temperature and the feed flow rates of CO2 and CH4 on the reaction performance of the SCFZ membrane reactor were investigated. It was found that the CO2 conversion increased with increasing the temperature and decreased with increasing the feed flow rates of CO2 or with decreasing the feed flow rates of CH4. At 1173 K, the CO2 conversion reached about 11.1%, and the CH4 conversion, CO selectivity, and the ratio of H-2/CO were 84.5%, 93%, and 1.8, respectively. (c) 2006 American Institute of Chemical Engineers.