Copper（Ⅱ）oxideinvaryingratioswascombinedwitheitheranalumina-basedcement（Al300）,orCaOderivedfromlimestoneassupportmaterialinamechanicalpelletiser.Thisproductionmethodwasusedtoinvestigateitsinfluenceonpossiblemechanicalandchemicalimprovementsforoxygencarriersinchemicalloopingprocesses.Thesematerialsweretestedinalab-scalefluidisedbedwithCOorCH4asareducinggasat950°C.Asexpected,theoxygencarrierscontainingagreaterratioofsupportmaterialexhibitedanenhancedcrushingstrength.Oxygencarrierscomprisedofa1:3ratioofsupportmaterialtoactiveCuOexhibitedincreasedcrushingstrengthbyaminimumof280%comparedtopureCuOpellets.AlloxygencarriersexhibitedahighCOconversionyieldandwerefullyreduciblefromCuOtoCu.Fortheinitialredoxcycle,Al300-supportedoxygencarriersshowedthehighestfuelandoxygencarrierconversion.Thegeneraltrendobservedwasadeclineinconversionwithanincreasingnumberofredoxcycles.InthecaseofCaO-supportedoxygencarriers,allbutoneoftheoxygencarrierssufferedagglomeration.TheagglomerationwasmoresevereincarrierswithhigherratiosofCuO.OxygencarrierCu25Al75（75wt%aluminatecementand25wt%CuO）,whichdidnotsufferfromagglomeration,showedthehighestattritionwithalossofapproximately8%ofitsinitialmassover25redoxcycles.ThereducibilityoftheoxygencarrierswaslimitedwithCH4incomparisontoCO.CH4conversionwere15%-25%and50%forCu25Ca75（25wt%CuOand75wt%CaO）andCu25Al75,respectively.Cu25Ca75demonstratedimprovedconversion,whereasCu25Al75exhibitedatrendingdecreaseinconversionwithincreasingredoxcycles.
