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U.S. Department of Energy
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New directions for the catalytic conversion of methane. Annual report, December 1990-November 1991

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:5287815
The addition of chlorine via HCl to a Li(+)-MgO catalyst improves its activity for the oxidative coupling of methane and for the oxidative dehydrogenation (OXD) of ethane. The latter effect is responsible for the large ethylene-to-ethane ratios (>5) observed during the oxidative coupling reaction. During the OXD reaction at 620 deg C, an 80% conversion of C2H6 has been achieved with 77% selectivity to C2H4 after 40 h on stream. To attain these favorable results, the Cl/Li ratio must be > or = 0.9. The absolute amounts of Li and Cl are of secondary importance, although an excess amount of promoters may serve to replace that which is slowly lost during the reaction. In the presence of chlorine, LiCl is formed rather than Li2CO3. The carbonate phase spreads over the surface and presumably blocks active sites. The chlorine in the catalyst also modifies the gross basicity of the catalyst, thus making it less effective for the further oxidation of ethylene, which is the desired product.
Research Organization:
Texas A and M Univ., College Station, TX (United States). Dept. of Chemistry
OSTI ID:
5287815
Report Number(s):
PB-92-172360/XAB; CNN: GRI-5086-260-1326
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English