Homogeneous oxidation of methane to methanol: Effect of CO{sub 2}, N{sub 2}, and H{sub 2} at high oxygen conversions

Journal Article · Thu May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1997 · Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/ie960666v· OSTI ID:509341

Chellappa, A S; Fuangfoo, S; Viswanath, D S ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, MO (United States). Dept. of Chemical Engineering

The effect of increasing levels of CO{sub 2}, N{sub 2}, and H{sub 2} in the feed on the homogeneous partial oxidation of methane was studied at reaction conditions giving high oxygen conversions. The reaction was carried out in a quartz lined tubular reactor at 643--703 K, 30--50 bar and residence times of 30--100 s. Air was used as the oxidizing agent and the CH{sub 4}/O{sub 2} ratio in the feed was varied from 8 to 16. Kinetic modeling studies were also carried out by using a free radical scheme consisting of a set of 46 elementary reactions. The results predicted by the model are in fair agreement with the experimental data. Increasing CO{sub 2} levels in the feed (3--15%) did not have an adverse effect on methane conversion and methanol selectivity but increased HCHO selectivity to a small extent. Increasing O{sub 2} concentrations in the feed was found to increase the HCHO/CH{sub 3}OH ratio as well as temperature required for high conversions. The need for higher temperatures is probably due to the increase in N{sub 2} levels in the feed. The methane conversion of 7% and a methanol selectivity of 54% at 703 K and 34 bar obtained in this study compare well with the values reported in the literature. The model predicts that increasing H{sub 2} levels in the feed at high oxygen conversions decreases methanol selectivity without affecting methane conversion.

• OSTI ID: 509341
• Journal Information: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research, Journal Name: Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Research Journal Issue: 5 Vol. 36; ISSN 0888-5885; ISSN IECRED
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
HYDROGEN
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METHANE
METHANOL
NITROGEN
PARTIAL OXIDATION PROCESSES
SYNTHESIS