Synthesis of C2H4 by partial oxidation of CH4 over LiCl/NiO

Alkali halide added transition metal oxides produced ethylene selectively in oxidative coupling of methane. The role of alkali halides has been investigated for LiCl-added NiO (LiCl/NiO). In the absence of LiCl the reaction over NiO produced only carbon oxides (CO₂ + CO). However, addition of LiCl drastically improved the yield of C₂ compounds (C₂H₆ + C₂H₄). One of the roles of LiCl is to inhibit the catalytic activity of the host NiO for deep oxidation of CH₄. The reaction catalyzed by the LiCl/NiO proceeds stepwise from CH₄ to C₂H₄ through C₂H₆ (2CH₄ → C₂H₆ → C₂H₄). The study on the oxidation of C₂H₆ over the LiCl/NiO showed that the oxidative dehydrogenation of C₂H₆ to C₂H₄ occurs very selectively, which is the main reason why partial oxidation of CH₄ over LiCl/NiO gives C₂H₄ quite selectively. The other role of LiCl is to prevent the host oxide (NiO) from being reduced by CH₄. The catalyst model under working conditions was suggested to be the NiO covered with molten LiCl. XPS studies suggested that the catalytically active species on the LiCl/NiO is a surface compound oxide which has higher valent nickel cations (Ni^(2+δ)+ or Ni³⁺). The catalyst was deactivated at the temperatures>973 K due to vaporization of LiCl and consumption of chlorine during reaction. The kinetic and CH₄---CD₄ exchange studies suggested that the rate-determining step of the reaction is the abstraction of H from the vibrationally excited methane by the molecular oxygen adsorbed on the surface compound oxide.     

High temperature catalytic combustion of methane and propane over hexaaluminate catalysts: NOx emission characteristics

Several hexaaluminate-related materials were prepared via hydrolysis of alkoxide and powder mixing method for high temperature combustion of CH₄ and C₃H₈, in order to investigate the effect of the concentration of the fuels, O₂ and H₂O on NO_x emission and combustion characteristics. Among the hexaaluminate catalysts, Sr_0.8La_0.2MnAl₁₁O₁₉₋ prepared by the alkoxide method exhibited the highest activity for methane combustion and low NO_x emission capability. NO_x emission at 1500 °C was increased linearly with O₂ concentration, whereas water vapor addition decreased NO_x emission in CH₄ combustion over the Sr_0.8La_0.2MnAl₁₁O₁₉₋ catalyst. In the catalytic combustion of C₃H₈ over the Sr_0.8La_0.2MnAl₁₁O₁₉₋ catalyst, the amount of NO_x emitted was raised in the temperature range between 1000 and 1500 °C when the C₃H₈ concentration increased from 1 to 2 vol.%. It was found that NO_x emission in this temperature range was reduced effectively by adding water vapor.     

C2H6/C3H8影响CH4爆炸极限参数及动力学特性研究

为研究C₂H₆/C₃H₈对甲烷爆炸极限参数及动力学特性的影响,采用标准的可燃气体爆炸极限测定装置测定了不同配比的C₂H₆/C₃H₈混合气体对甲烷爆炸极限的影响规律,同时得出了氮气惰化条件下甲烷爆炸临界参数的变化规律。此外,利用Chemkin软件模拟了C₂H₆/C₃H₈混合气体对甲烷爆炸过程中中间产物浓度的影响情况,并进行了敏感性分析。结果表明,C₂H₆/C₃H₈的存在降低了甲烷的爆炸上下限,增大了甲烷的爆炸危险度;在氮气惰化过程中甲烷的爆炸上限下降,爆炸下限上升,最终爆炸上下限重合,重合点处甲烷浓度和氮气临界浓度均随C₂H₆/C₃H₈的添加而逐渐减小;此外,C₂H₆/C₃H₈混合气体使甲烷爆炸过程中CO和·H的生成量逐渐增大,而CO₂、·O和·OH的生成量则有下降趋势,通过对爆炸过程中甲烷体积的敏感性分析,发现C₂H₆/C₃H₈的存在在某种程度上促进了甲烷爆炸。对比不同配比的C₂H₆/C₃H₈混合气体,发现C₃H₈含量越高,其对甲烷爆炸过程中相关参数的影响越大,这可为工矿企业的安全生产提供一定的理论依据。     

SCR of NOx with CH3OH on H-mordenite: mechanism and reaction intermediates

The selective reduction of NO_x over H-mordenite (H-m) was studied using CH₃OH as reducing agent. Results are compared with those obtained with other conventional reducing agents (ethylene and methane), with gas-phase reactions, and with other metal-exchanged mordenites (Cu-mordenite (Cu-m) and Co-mordenite (Co-m)). H-m was found to be an effective catalyst for the SCR of NO_x with CH₃OH. When different reducing agents were compared over H-m, CH₃OH > C₂H₄ > CH₄ was the order according to the maximum NO conversion obtained using 1% of oxygen in the feed. Instead, if selectivity is considered, the order results CH₄ > CH₃OH > C₂H₄. In reaction experiments, two distinct zones defined by two maxima with NO to N₂ conversion are obtained at two different temperatures. A correlation exists between the said zones and the CO : CO₂ ratio. At low temperatures, CO prevails whereas at high temperatures CO₂ prevails. These results indicate that there exist different reaction intermediates. Evidence from reaction experiments, FTIR results, and transient experiments suggest that the reaction mechanism involves formaldehyde and dimethyl ether (DME) as intermediates in the 200–500°C temperature range. The surface interaction between CH₃OH (or its decomposition products) and NO is negligible if compared with NO₂, indicating that the oxidation of NO to NO₂ on acid sites is a fundamental path in this system. Different from other non-oxygenated reductants (methane and ethylene), a gas-phase NO_x initiation effect on hydrocarbon combustion was not observed.     

Chemistry of surface oxygen formed from N2O on ZSM-5 at moderate temperatures

Conversion of CH₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, benzene and their binary mixtures over H-NaZSM-5 catalyst in the presence of N₂O was studied. It was found that under experimental conditions methane alkylates benzene to give toluene and xylenes. Acidity of the catalyst had no effect on the reactivity of active oxygen formed from N₂O towards methane and benzene, but affected their secondary transformation. Acidic samples favored the reaction of aromatic ring methylation with methane whereas deep oxidation of CH₄ prevailed on NaHZSM-5. Based on the relative reactivities and ¹³C label distribution in the products of ¹³CH₄+C₆H₆+N₂O feed conversion, the scheme of hydrocarbon transformation was proposed.     

Effect of hydrogen on reaction intermediates in the selective catalytic reduction of NOx by C3H6

Selective catalytic reduction of NO_x by C₃H₆ in the presence of H₂ over Ag/Al₂O₃ was investigated using in situ DRIFTS and GC–MS measurements. The addition of H₂ promoted the partial oxidation of C₃H₆ to enolic species, the formation of –NCO and the reactions of enolic species and –NCO with NO_x on Ag/Al₂O₃ surface at low temperatures. Based on the results, we proposed reaction mechanism to explain the promotional effect of H₂ on the SCR of NO_x by C₃H₆ over Ag/Al₂O₃ catalyst.     

The reduction phase in NOx storage catalysis: Effect of type of precious metal and reducing agent

The effect of different reducing agents (H₂, CO, C₃H₆ and C₃H₈) on the reduction of stored NO_x over PM/BaO/Al₂O₃ catalysts (PM = Pt, Pd or Rh) at 350, 250 and 150 °C was studied by the use of both NO₂-TPD and transient reactor experiments. With the aim of comparing the different reducing agents and precious metals, constant molar reduction capacity was used during the reduction period for samples with the same molar amount of precious metal. The results reveal that H₂ and CO have a relatively high NO_x reduction efficiency compared to C₃H₆ and especially C₃H₈ that does not show any NO_x reduction ability except at 350 °C over Pd/BaO/Al₂O₃. The type of precious metals affects the NO_x storage-reduction properties, where the Pd/BaO/Al₂O₃ catalyst shows both a high storage and a high reduction ability. The Rh/BaO/Al₂O₃ catalyst shows a high reduction ability but a relatively low NO_x storage capacity.     

Circumventing fuel-NOx formation in catalytic combustion of gasified biomass

It has been shown that it is possible to decrease fuel-NO_x produced from NH₃ using catalytic combustion of a synthetic gasified biomass at fuel-lean conditions. In a certain temperature regime where the conversion of fuel components, such as CO, H₂ and CH₄, is low and conversion of NH₃ is high, it is suggested that the formed NO_x is reduced by the remaining fuel components, mainly hydrocarbons. With oxide catalysts only ca. 10% of the NH₃ was converted to NO_x, the rest to N₂. It has also been shown that the ignition sequence of CO, H₂ and CH₄ varied for different catalysts and different experimental conditions, and that methane coupling and methanation reactions occurred before ignition of CH₄.     

Free-radical reactions involved in C1-C3 hydrocarbons interaction with oxide catalysts

Experimental proofs of a free radical mechanism in methane oxidative coupling, with homolytic rupture of the C---H bond are given. High concentrations of free radical sites are produced by mechanical milling of SiO₂. A study of C₁---C₃alkanes interaction with these sites allows to simulate the, processes of alkanes oxidation and oxidative dehydrogenation. The reactivity of ethane and propane is higher than that of methane in accordance with the Polanyi-Semenov rule. Oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane is studied on Cd-containing zeolites. CH₄, C₂H₆ and C₃H₈ oxidative dehydrogenation by O₂ or CO₂ is studied on a MNO/SiO₂ catalyst. The initiation of radical reactions of hydrocarbons on Cl-containing catalysts proceeds via chlorine atoms generation.     

Oxidative coupling of methane in Ba0.5Sr0.5Co0.8Fe0.2O3−δ tubular membrane reactors

A dense membrane tube made of Ba_0.5Sr_0.5Co_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ (BSCF) was prepared by plastic extrusion from BSCF oxide synthesized by the complexing EDTA-citrate method. The membrane tube was used in a catalytic membrane reactor for oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) to C₂ without an additional catalyst. At high methane concentration (93%), about 62% C₂ selectivity was obtained, which is higher than that achieved in a conventional reactor using the BSCF as a catalyst. The dependence of the OCM reaction on temperature and methane concentration indicates that the C₂ selectivity in the BSCF membrane reactor is limited by high ion recombination rates. If an active OCM catalyst (La-Sr/CaO) was packed in the membrane tube, C₂ selectivity and CH₄ conversion increased compared to the blank run. The highest C₂ yield in the BSCF membrane reactor in presence of the La-Sr/CaO catalyst was about 15%, similar to that in a packed-bed reactor with the same catalyst under the same conditions. However, the ratio of C₂H₄/C₂H₆ in the membrane reactor was much higher than that in the packed-bed reactor, which is an advantage of the membrane reactor.     

Catalytic reduction of SO2 over supported transition-metal oxide catalysts with C2H4 as a reducing agent

This work investigates performances of supported transition-metal oxide catalysts for the catalytic reduction of SO₂ with C₂H₄ as a reducing agent. Experimental results indicate that the active species, the support, the feed ratio of C₂H₄/SO₂, and pretreatment are all important factors affecting catalyst activity. Fe₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃ was found to be the most active catalyst among six γ-Al₂O₃-supported metal oxide catalysts tested. With Fe₂O₃ as the active species, of the supports tested, CeO₂ is the most suitable one. Using this Fe₂O₃/CeO₂ catalyst, we found that the optimal Fe content is 10 wt.%, the optimal feed ratio of C₂H₄/SO₂ is 1:1, and the catalyst presulfidized by H₂+H₂S exhibits a higher performance than those pretreated with H₂ or He. Although the feed concentrations of C₂H₄:SO₂ being 3000:3000 ppm provide a higher conversion of SO₂, the sulfur yield decreases drastically at temperatures above 300 °C. With higher feed concentrations, maximum yield appears at higher temperatures. The C₂H₄ temperature-programmed desorption (C₂H₄-TPD) and SO₂-TPD desorption patterns illustrate that Fe₂O₃/CeO₂ can adsorb and desorb C₂H₄ and SO₂ more easily than can Fe₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃. Moreover, the SO₂-TPD patterns further show that Fe₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃ is more seriously inhibited by SO₂. These findings may properly explain why Fe₂O₃/CeO₂ has a higher activity for the reduction of SO₂.     

Catalytic decomposition of light alkanes, alkenes and acetylene over Ni/SiO2

The decomposition of different hydrocarbons (CH₄, C₂H₆, C₂H₄, C₂H₂, C₃H₈, and C₃H₆) over Ni (5 wt.%)/SiO₂ catalysts was carried out. The initial rates of decomposition of the hydrocarbons, the kinetic curves of the decomposition and the kinetic curves of the hydrogenation of deposited carbon into methane depended on the types of hydrocarbons. In addition, the catalytic life of the Ni/SiO₂ catalyst was also dependent on the types of hydrocarbons, i.e. the life was longer according to the order, alkanes>alkenesacetylene.

The carbons deposited on the catalyst were characterized by SEM and Raman spectroscopy. The appearances of the deposited carbons were different among alkanes, alkenes, and acetylene, i.e. a zigzag fiber structure from methane, and a rolled fiber structure from alkenes and acetylene. From Raman spectra of the deposited carbons, it was found that the degree of graphitization of deposited carbon was higher in the order, alkanes>alkenes>acetylene. These results suggest that the mechanism of decomposition of hydrocarbons and the growth mechanism of carbon fibers on the catalyst were different among alkanes, alkenes and acetylene.     

IR spectroscopic analysis of isotopic C2-products of the oxidative coupling of CH4+CD4mixture over manganese oxide catalyst

The composition and structure of the product of mixture CH₄+CD₄ oxidative coupling over natural manganese mineral catalyst at 3% and 25% methane conversion in redox mode at 850°C have been determined by IR-Absorption- Reflection spectroscopy technique. At low methane conversion there were ethanes: H₃OCH₃, H₃OCD₃, D₃CCD₃ and ethylenes: H₂CCH₂, H₂CCD₂, D₂CCD₂ only The data obtained showed that the reaction proceeds by gas-phase CH₃, CD₃ radicals coupling and ethane is the primary C₂-product and ethylene is produced by gas-phase conversion of ethane.     

Non-oxidative reaction of CBrF3 with methane over NiZSM-5 and HZSM-5

Catalytic hydrodehalogenation of CBrF₃ with methane was studied over NiZSM-5 and HZSM-5 in tubular reactor between 573 and 873 K and at ambient pressure. It was found that the incorporation of nickel into HZSM-5 significantly enhanced the activity of the zeolite. A variety of products were formed during reaction, including CH₃Br, CHF₃, CH₂Br₂, C₂F₆, C₂H₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₂F₂, CHBrF₂, CH₂BrF, and C₂H₃Br. XRD analysis showed that these two zeolite catalysts did not suffer any loss in their crystallinity during use. Deactivation of both NiZSM-5 and HZSM-5 may, in part, be due to poisoning of the zeolite by halogens. Coking is another cause of the deactivation of HZSM-5, but appears to play a minor role in NiZSM-5 deactivation. A series of methylated silicone oils was detected during reaction over NiZSM-5.     

Reaction and oxygen permeation studies in Sm0.4Ba0.6Fe0.8Co0.2O3 − δ membrane reactor for partial oxidation of methane to syngas

A disk-type Sm_0.4Ba_0.6Co_0.2Fe_0.8O_3 − δ perovskite-type mixed-conducting membrane was applied to a membrane reactor for the partial oxidation of methane to syngas (CO + H₂). The reaction was carried out using Rh (1 wt%)/MgO catalyst by feeding CH₄ diluted with Ar. While CH₄ conversion increased and CO selectivity slightly decreased with increasing temperature, a high level of CH₄ conversion (90%) and a high selectivity to CO (98%) were observed at 1173 K. The oxygen flux was increased under the conditions for the catalytic partial oxidation of CH₄ compared with that measured when Ar was fed to the permeation side. We investigated the reaction pathways in the membrane reactor using different membrane reactor configurations and different kinds of gas. In the membrane reactor without the catalyst, the oxygen flux was not improved even when CH₄ was fed to the permeation side, whereas the oxygen flux was enhanced when CO or H₂ was fed. It is implied that the oxidation of CO and H₂ with the surface oxygen on the permeation side improves the oxygen flux through the membrane, and that CO₂ and H₂O react with CH₄ by reforming reactions to form syngas.     

H2 production by ethanol decomposition with a gliding arc discharge plasma reactor

A gliding arc discharge (GRD) reactor was used to decompose ethanol into primarily H₂ and CO with small amounts of CH₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₄, and C₂H₆. The ethanol concentration, electrode gap, input voltage and Ar flow rate all affected the conversion of ethanol with results ranging from 40.7% to 58.0%. Interestingly, for all experimental conditions the S_H2/S_CO selectivity ratio was quite stable at around 1.03. The mechanism for the decomposition of ethanol is also described.     

The simultaneous activation of methane and carbon dioxide to C2 hydrocarbons under pulse corona plasma over La2O3/γ-Al2O3 catalyst

The pulse corona plasma has been used as an activation method for reaction of methane and carbon dioxide, the product was C₂ hydrocarbons and by-products were CO and H₂. Methane conversion and the yield of C₂ hydrocarbons were affected by the carbon dioxide concentration in the feed. The conversion of methane increased with increasing carbon dioxide concentration in the feed whereas the yield of C₂ hydrocarbons decreased. The synergism of La₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃ and plasma gave methane conversion of 24.9% and C₂ hydrocarbons yield of 18.1% were obtained at the power input of plasma was 30 W. The distribution of C₂ hydrocarbons changed by using Pd-La₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst, the major C₂ product was ethylene.     

An investigation of the comparative reactivities of ethane and ethylene in the presence of oxygen over Li/MgO and Ca/Sm2O3 catalysts in relation to the oxidative coupling of methane.

In order to examine the importance of the further oxidation of the desired C₂ products in the oxidative coupling of methane, ethylene and ethane have been added to the feed (containing methane and oxygen) to a Li/MgO or Ca/Sm₂O₃ catalyst. The results of these measurements show that neither of these C₂ molecules is stable under these conditions with either of the catalysts. Additionally, the rates of the oxidation of ethane and of ethylene alone have been measured using a gradientless reactor for both catalysts as well as for a quartz bed. It was found that the Ca/Sm₂O₃ material had higher activities for the oxidation of C₂H₆ and C₂H₄ (and also of CH₄) than had the Li/MgO material. These higher activities result in a lower optimal reaction temperature for the oxidative coupling of methane and are (at least partially) responsible for the lower selectivity to C₂ products observed with the Ca/Sm₂O₃ catalyst compared to that with the Li/MgO catalyst.     

Catalytic reduction of NOx with H2/CO/CH4 over PdMOR catalysts

Conversion of NO_x with reducing agents H₂, CO and CH₄, with and without O₂, H₂O, and CO₂ were studied with catalysts based on MOR zeolite loaded with palladium and cerium. The catalysts reached high NO_x to N₂ conversion with H₂ and CO (>90% conversion and N₂ selectivity) range under lean conditions. The formation of N₂O is absent in the presence of both H₂ and CO together with oxygen in the feed, which will be the case in lean engine exhaust. PdMOR shows synergic co-operation between H₂ and CO at 450–500 K. The positive effect of cerium is significant in the case of H₂ and CH₄ reducing agent but is less obvious with H₂/CO mixture and under lean conditions. Cerium lowers the reducibility of Pd species in the zeolite micropores. The catalysts showed excellent stability at temperatures up to 673 K in a feed with 2500 ppm CH₄, 500 ppm NO, 5% O₂, 10% H₂O (0–1% H₂), N₂ balance but deactivation is noticed at higher temperatures. Combining results of the present study with those of previous studies it shows that the PdMOR-based catalysts are good catalysts for NO_x reduction with H₂, CO, hydrocarbons, alcohols and aldehydes under lean conditions at temperatures up to 673 K.     

Catalytic oxidation of saturated hydrocarbons on multicomponent Au/Al2O3 catalysts: Effect of various promoters

The performance of unpromoted and MO_x-(M: alkali (earth), transition metal and cerium) promoted Au/Al₂O₃ catalysts have been studied for combustion of the saturated hydrocarbons methane and propane. As expected, higher temperatures are required to oxidize CH₄ (above 400 °C), compared with C₃H₈ (above 250 °C). The addition of various MO_x to Au/Al₂O₃ improves the catalytic activity in both methane and propane oxidation. For methane oxidation, the most efficient promoters to enhance the catalytic performance of Au/Al₂O₃ are FeO_x and MnO_x. For C₃H₈ oxidation a direct relationship is found between the catalytic performance and the average size of the gold particles in the presence of alkali (earth) metal oxides. The effect of the gold particle size becomes less important for additives of the type of transition metal oxides and ceria. The results suggest that the role of the alkali (earth) metal oxides is related to the stabilization of the gold nanoparticles, whereas transition metal oxide and ceria additives may be involved in oxygen activation.