A study of catalysts and mechanisms in synthesis reactions: Progress report, January 1988--December 1988

Technical Report · Thu Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6779625

Lunsford, J H

The goal of this research program has been to determine the role of surface-generated gas phase radicals in the oxidation of hydrocarbons. Emphasis has been placed on the oxidation of methane, and during the last two years aspects of the problem have been studied in detail. These are (1) the more general importance of surface-generated gas phase methyl radicals in the oxidative dimerization of methane and (2) the reactions of methyl radicals with surfaces. We previously demonstrated that methyl radicals formed on the surfaces of lithium-promoted magnesium oxide (Li/sup +//MgO) and sodium-promoted calcium oxide (Na/sup +//CaO) emanate into the gas phase where they couple to form ethane and subsequently ethylene (C/sub 2/ products). It is of interest to determine whether a similar mechanism is operative over other types of catalysts which have been reported. The gas phase coupling of methyl radicals is one of many reactions which might occur, including the reaction of these radicals back with the metal oxide surface. These secondary reactions play a major role in determining the selectivity of the overall oxidation reaction, yet there exists essentially no data on the reactions of methyl radicals with the metal oxides. 5 refs., 2 figs.

• Research Organization: Texas A and M Univ., College Station (USA). Dept. of Chemistry
• DOE Contract Number: FG05-88ER13829
• OSTI ID: 6779625
• Report Number(s): DOE/ER/13829-1; ON: DE88017255
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
400201* -- Chemical & Physicochemical Properties
ALKANES
ALKYL RADICALS
CATALYSTS
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTION YIELD
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DOCUMENT TYPES
EFFICIENCY
HYDROCARBONS
KINETICS
LANTHANUM COMPOUNDS
LANTHANUM OXIDES
METHANE
METHYL RADICALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PROGRESS REPORT
RADICALS
RARE EARTH COMPOUNDS
REACTION KINETICS
YIELDS