A dense ceramic oxygen permeable membrane reactor (OPMR) not only combines a membrane separation unit with a chemical reaction, but couples them in such a way that a synergy is created between the two units. This technical concept is expected to be a promising approach to achieve green and sustainable chemistry with less energy consumption and lower pollution. This article presents a review of the recent progress of dense ceramic OPMR, including membrane materials, membrane architecture, membrane reactor design, new applications in energy and environmental fields, current challenges related to industrialization and future research. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.