Design of Novel Catalysts for the Partial Oxidation of Methane to Methanol.Annual Report, January-December 1993

摘要

This work has set out to design novel catalysts for the partial oxidation ofmethane to methanol. To date a two prong approach has been used in this study, namely (1) experimental studies of methane activation at the University of Liverpool, UK, and (2) theoretical study of the role of surface structures in the activation of methane on oxide surfaces at the Royal Institute of GB, UK. The overall experimental approach is to identify features required for active and selective catalysts, namely to identify (1) oxides that do not oxidize methanol at temperatures of interest for this reaction, (2) oxides capable of activating methane at temperatures <400 deg C and this is achieved using CH4/D2 as a test reaction, and (3) oxides capable of oxygen activation and this is achieved using (18)O2/(16)O2 isotope exchange reaction data. These data have been obtained for simple oxides and are used as the basis for the design of systems capable of synergy between the active components. Initial results for this approach are reported and discussed. In addition, the methodology has been completed for the theoretical studies on simple oxide systems and initial results are reported. The studies of the iron sodalite system, a potential example of synergy of catalytic components have been completed and are reported.