Oxidative Coupling of Methane - Still a Challenge for Catalyst Development and Reaction Engineering

Abstract

Oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) to ethylene was studied using Li/MgO as model catalyst. The catalyst showed uncontrollable deactivation, regardless what precursor and method were used for its preparation. For the development of an OCM process another catalyst, Na2WO4/Mn/SiO2, was chosen. Kinetic isotope measurements and studies in a TAP reactor revealed the similarity of the reaction mechanisms at both catalysts, although they are completely different materials. The selectivity was largely controlled by total oxidation reactions of intermediates and products that can only be suppressed by a low partial pressure of oxygen in the reaction mixture. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the DGMK Conference (Dresden, Germany 10/9-11/2013)