Novel Aerogel Catalysts for Partial Oxidation of Methane, Phase 1 Final Report

摘要

The objective of the research is to develop novel aerogel catalysts and evaluatethem for the oxidative coupling of methane from a continuous methane/oxygen co-feed. Catalytic enhancement of the reaction of interest, 2CH4 + 1/2O2 ---> C2H6 + H2O, has tremendous potential for the conversion of an abundant raw material (CH4) into an important feedstock which can replace petroleum in the production of a vast array of valuable chemical commodities. Eleven multicomponent catalyst systems were prepared using the aerogel technique. The resulting materials are voluminous powders which possess extraordinarily high surface areas and low bulk densities. The compositions of aerogel catalysts chosen correspond to those of conventional catalysts (prepared by incipient wetness impregnation) which have shown promising results in recent studies. A methane/oxygen/helium mixture was passed through a fixed bed of catalyst at temperatures of 500-900 C. The products of the reaction were analyzed for higher hydrocarbons. The best aerogel catalyst performed as well as conventional catalysts of similar composition tested under the same conditions, but at lower temperatures.