In this study, propane pulse experiments at 550 degrees C are used as a method to select suitable oxides for further operation of catalytic dense membrane reactor (CDMR) for oxidative dehydrogenation of propane. Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3-delta (BSCF), La2NiO4+delta (LN) and PrBaCo2O5+delta (PBC) powders were used as model catalysts to explore the catalytic properties of membrane surfaces in terms of activity and selectivity. Furthermore, as propane pulses induce removal of oxygen from the sample, which is therefore depleted in oxygen by reducing the oxide, crucial information on the effect of the oxygen content in the samples (i.e. the oxidation degree) on reactivity and selectivity is obtained. It will be shown that LN is the most promising material for membrane application, provided that it is operated in the optimal window of reduction degree, to ensure high selectivity towards C3H6. Contrary, PBC and BSCF are not suitable for CDMR. In fact, PBC showed low selectivity to C3H6 due to significant formation of CO2, independent of the oxidation degree of the material and BSCF appears to adsorb CO2 by forming carbonates, which might be detrimental for long term operation. However, pulse experiments revealed the remarkable stability of BSCF catalyst's activity towards CO2 adsorption. Despite the presence of carbonate, the material preserved the ability to act as an oxygen source for propane and can be completely regenerated via oxidation. Additionally, the onset temperature in TPR appears to correlate well with the reactivity of lattice oxygen ions with propane, for the three materials studied. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.