Syngas production in a novel perovskite membrane reactor with co-feed of CO2

Partial oxidation of methane（POM） co-fed with CO₂ to syngas in a novel catalytic BaCo_0.6Fe_0.2Ta_0.2O_3-δ oxygen permeable membrane reactor was successfully reported.Adding CO₂ to the partial oxidation of methane reaction not only alters the ratio of CO/H₂,but also increases the oxygen permeation flux and CH₄ conversion.Around 96%CH₄ conversion with more than 93%CO₂ conversion and 100%CO selectivity is achieved,which shows an excellent reaction performance.A steady oxygen permeation flux of 15 mL/（cm² min） is obtained during the 100-h operation,which shows good stability as well.     

Partial Oxidation of Methane into Syngas with Oxygen Permeating Ceramic Membrane Reactors

Partial oxidation of methane (CH₄ +1/2O₂ CO + 2H₂) is considered as an alternative reforming reaction to steam reforming for production of syngas. This reaction is a slightly exothermic reaction and produces syngas of H₂/CO = 2, which is suitable for the synthesis of hydrocarbon or methanol. In this paper, the catalytic partial oxidation of CH₄ with a membrane reactor using oxygen permeating ceramic, in particular, LaGaO₃-based oxide, is reported. Supported Ni or Rh catalysts are active and selective for this reaction. On the other hand, a mixed ionic and electronic conducting (MIEC) ceramic membrane is useful for obtaining pure oxygen from air when the gradient in oxygen partial pressure is obtained. As for a MIEC membrane, mixed electronic–oxide ionic conductors of Fe- or Co-based perovskite oxides are widely investigated. However, the improvement in stability in a reducing atmosphere is critically required for the MIEC membrane for the application to the membrane reactor for CH₄ partial oxidation. Perovskite oxides of LaGaO₃ doped with Sr for a La site and a Fe, Co, or Ni for a Ga site, respectively, are promising as the oxygen-separating membrane for CH₄ partial oxidation because of high stability in a reducing atmosphere as well as high permeability of oxygen. The partial oxidation of CH₄ with solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) is also described. Simultaneous generation of electrical power and syngas is demonstrated by the fabricated fuel cell type reactor using a LaGaO₃-based oxide electrolyte.     

The oxidative stream reforming of methane to syngas in a thin tubular mixed-conducting membrane reactor

The oxidative stream reforming of methane (OSRM) to syngas, involving coupling of exothermic partial oxidation of methane (POM) and endothermic steam reforming of methane (SRM) processes, was studied in a thin tubular Al₂O₃-doped SrCo_0.8Fe_0.2O_3−δ membrane reactor packed with a Ni/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst. The influences of the temperature and feed concentration on the membrane reaction performances were investigated in detail. The methane and steam conversions increased with increasing the temperature and high conversions were obtained in 850–900 °C. Different from the POM reaction, in the OSRM reaction the temperature and H₂O/CH₄ profoundly influenced the CO selectivity, H₂/CO and heat of the reaction. The CO selectivity increased with increasing the temperature or decreasing the H₂O/CH₄ ratio in the feed owing to the water gas shift reaction (H₂O + CO → CO₂ + H₂). And the H₂ selectivity based on methane conversion was always 100% because the net steam conversion was greater than zero. The H₂/CO in product could be tuned from 1.9 to 2.8 by adjusting the reaction temperature or H₂O/CH₄. Depending on the temperature or H₂O/CH₄, furthermore, the OSRM process could be performed auto-thermally with idealized reaction condition.     

Partial Oxidation of Methane to Methanol with Oxygen or Air in a Nonequilibrium Discharge Plasma

The partial oxidation of methane to methanol with oxygen or air was investigated experimentally and theoretically in a dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD). The predominant parameters of specific electric energy, oxygen content, flow rate, temperature, and gas pressure were determined in CH ₄ /O ₂ and CH ₄ /air mixtures. Optimum selectivities toward methanol formation were found at an oxygen concentration of about 15% in both feed gas mixtures. Low specific energy favors the selectivity toward methanol and suppresses the formation of carbon oxides. The experiments indicate that high methanol selectivities can be obtained at high methane conversion. The highest methanol yield of 3% and the highest methanol selectivity of about 30% were achieved in CH ₄ /O ₂ mixtures. In CH ₄ /air mixtures, as high as 2% methanol yield was also obtained. In addition, other useful products, like ethylene, ethane, propane, and ethanol, were detected. Experiment and numerical simulations show that the formation of H ₂ O and CO has a strong negative influence on methanol formation.     

Methane Decomposition in a Barium Titanate Packed-Bed Nonthermal Plasma Reactor

The behavior of lattice oxygen species of the ferroelectric material during methane oxidation was investigated using a nonthermal plasma reactor packed with BaTiO ₃ pellets. Lattice oxygen species in BaTiO ₃ play an important role in the formation of N ₂ O and the oxidation of CH ₄ . The oxidation products such as CO and CO ₂ were formed from independent reaction pathways. Lattice oxygen species were able to preferentially oxidize the carbon species deposited on the pellet surface into CO. Also, N ₂ O and NO _x were independently formed in the N ₂–O ₂ reaction, suggesting that different oxygen species give N ₂ O and NO _x. N ₂ O was produced by the oxidation of molecular nitrogen with lattice oxygen species.     

Back Cover: Illustrating the Fate of Methyl Radical in Photocatalytic Methane Oxidation over Ag−ZnO by in situ Synchrotron Radiation Photoionization Mass Spectrometry (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 32/2023)

Photocatalysis has emerged as an ideal method for the direct activation and conversion of methane under mild conditions. In this reaction, methyl radical (⋅CH₃) was deemed a key intermediate that affected the yields and selectivity of the products. However, direct observation of ⋅CH₃ and other intermediates is still challenging. Here, a rectangular photocatalytic reactor coupled with in situ synchrotron radiation photoionization mass spectrometry (SR-PIMS) was developed to detect reactive intermediates within several hundred microseconds during photocatalytic methane oxidation over Ag−ZnO. Gas phase ⋅CH₃ generated by photogenerated holes (O⁻) was directly observed, and its formation was demonstrated to be significantly enhanced by coadsorbed oxygen molecules. Methoxy radical (CH₃O⋅) and formaldehyde (HCHO) were confirmed to be key C1 intermediates in photocatalytic methane overoxidation to CO₂. The gas-phase self-coupling reaction of ⋅CH₃ contributes to the formation of ethane, which indicates the key role of ⋅CH₃ desorption in the highly selective synthesis of ethane. Based on the observed intermediates, the reaction network initiated from ⋅CH₃ of photocatalytic methane oxidation could be clearly illustrated, which is helpful for studying the photocatalytic methane conversion processes.     

Evaluation of La0.5Sr0.5FeO3 − δ membrane reactors for partial oxidation of methane

Dense planar and tubular oxygen separation membranes of La_0.5Sr_0.5FeO_{3 −  δ} were studied in the partial oxidation of methane to syngas process. The oxygen permeation properties were obtained from the analysis of the outlet gas and compared with the data calculated from conductivity measurements. For the planar reactor, the selectivity achieved 95% and the CH₄ conversion was 95–99% at 900 °C with pure methane. For the tubular reactor, the CO selectivity and CH₄ conversion were 90% and 100%, respectively, under the same conditions. In both cases, the H₂/CO ratio was 1.6–1.9. No degradation of membranes was observed after 250 h of operation.     

Methane Carboxylation Using Electrochemically Activated Carbon Dioxide

Direct synthesis of CH₃COOH from CH₄ and CO₂ is an appealing approach for the utilization of two potent greenhouse gases that are notoriously difficult to activate. In this Communication, we report an integrated route to enable this reaction. Recognizing the thermodynamic stability of CO₂, our strategy sought to first activate CO₂ to produce CO (through electrochemical CO₂ reduction) and O₂ (through water oxidation), followed by oxidative CH₄ carbonylation catalyzed by Rh single atom catalysts supported on zeolite. The net result was CH₄ carboxylation with 100 % atom economy. CH₃COOH was obtained at a high selectivity (>80 %) and good yield (ca. 3.2 mmol g⁻¹_cat in 3 h). Isotope labelling experiments confirmed that CH₃COOH is produced through the coupling of CH₄ and CO₂. This work represents the first successful integration of CO/O₂ production with oxidative carbonylation reaction. The result is expected to inspire more carboxylation reactions utilizing preactivated CO₂ that take advantage of both products from the reduction and oxidation processes, thus achieving high atom efficiency in the synthesis.     

Thermal Activation of CH4 and H2 as Mediated by the Ruthenium Oxide Cluster Ions [RuOx]+ (x=1–3): On the Influence of Oxidation States

Thermal gas-phase reactions of the ruthenium-oxide clusters [RuO_x]⁺ (x=1–3) with methane and dihydrogen have been explored by using FT-ICR mass spectrometry complemented by high-level quantum chemical calculations. For methane activation, as compared to the previously studied [RuO]⁺/CH₄ couple, the higher oxidized Ru systems give rise to completely different product distributions. [RuO₂]⁺ brings about the generations of [Ru,O,C,H₂]⁺/H₂O, [Ru,O,C]⁺/H₂/H₂O, and [Ru,O,H₂]⁺/CH₂O, whereas [RuO₃]⁺ exhibits a higher selectivity and efficiency in producing formaldehyde and syngas (CO+H₂). Regarding the reactions with H₂, as compared to CH₄, both [RuO]⁺ and [RuO₂]⁺ react similarly inefficiently with oxygen-atom transfer being the main reaction channel; in contrast, [RuO₃]⁺ is inert toward dihydrogen. Theoretical analysis reveals that the reduction of the metal center drives the overall oxidation of methane, whereas the back-bonding orbital interactions between the cluster ions and dihydrogen control the H−H bond activation. Furthermore, the reactivity patterns of [RuO_x]⁺ (x=1–3) with CH₄ and H₂ have been compared with the previously reported results of Group 8 analogues [OsO_x]⁺/CH₄/H₂ (x=1–3) and the [FeO]⁺/H₂ system. The electronic origins for their distinctly different reaction behaviors have been addressed.     

Probing the Role of a Non‐Thermal Plasma (NTP) in the Hybrid NTP Catalytic Oxidation of Methane

Three recurring hypotheses are often used to explain the effect of non‐thermal plasmas (NTPs) on NTP catalytic hybrid reactions; namely, modification or heating of the catalyst or creation of new reaction pathways by plasma‐produced species. NTP‐assisted methane (CH₄) oxidation over Pd/Al₂O₃ was investigated by direct monitoring of the X‐ray absorption fine structure of the catalyst, coupled with end‐of‐pipe mass spectrometry. This in situ study revealed that the catalyst did not undergo any significant structural changes under NTP conditions. However, the NTP did lead to an increase in the temperature of the Pd nanoparticles; although this temperature rise was insufficient to activate the thermal CH₄ oxidation reaction. The contribution of a lower activation barrier alternative reaction pathway involving the formation of CH₃(g) from electron impact reactions is proposed.     

La1-xSrxFeO3钙钛矿型氧化物中的晶格氧用于甲烷部分氧化制合成气

采用燃烧法制备了Sr掺杂钙钛矿型氧化物La_1-xSr_xFeO₃（x=0,0.3,0.5,0.9）载氧体,对载氧体分别进行X射线衍射、扫描电镜和H₂程序升温还原反应表征,在热重循环装置和固定床反应装置上考察甲烷与载氧体晶格氧的部分氧化反应.结果表明,La_1-xSr_xFeO₃氧化物中的晶格氧适用于甲烷部分氧化制合成气,晶格氧的得失是一个可逆过程,Sr的掺杂提高了载氧体的供氧能力,5次循环后载氧体得失晶格氧的能力没有明显的衰减.从甲烷转化率、n（H₂）/n（CO）比以及H₂和CO的选择性等方面来考虑,x=0.3-0.5比较理想,甲烷转化率维持在70%左右,气体产物中n（H₂）/n（CO）约为2,CH₄没有发生明显的裂解.     

Shock‐tube and modeling study of acetaldehyde pyrolysis and oxidation

Pyrolysis and oxidation of acetaldehyde were studied behind reflected shock waves in the temperature range 1000–1700 K at total pressures between 1.2 and 2.8 atm. The study was carried out using the following methods, (1) time‐resolved IR‐laser absorption at 3.39 μm for acetaldehyde decay and CH‐compound formation rates, (2) time‐resolved UV absorption at 200 nm for CH₂CO and C₂H₄ product formation rates, (3) time‐resolved UV absorption at 216 nm for CH₃ formation rates, (4) time‐resolved UV absorption at 306.7 nm for OH radical formation rate, (5) time‐resolved IR emission at 4.24 μm for the CO₂ formation rate, (6) time‐resolved IR emission at 4.68 μm for the CO and CH₂CO formation rate, and (7) a single‐pulse technique for product yields. From a computer‐simulation study, a 178‐reaction mechanism that could satisfactorily model all of our data was constructed using new reactions, CH₃CHO (+M) → CH₄ + CO (+M), CH₃CHO (+M) → CH₂CO + H₂(+M), H + CH₃CHO → CH₂CHO + H₂, CH₃ + CH₃CHO → CH₂CHO + CH₄, O₂ + CH₃CHO → CH₂CHO + HO₂, O + CH₃CHO → CH₂CHO + OH, OH + CH₃CHO → CH₂CHO + H₂O, HO₂ + CH₃CHO → CH₂CHO + H₂O₂, having assumed or evaluated rate constants. The submechanisms of methane, ethylene, ethane, formaldehyde, and ketene were found to play an important role in acetaldehyde oxidation. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 40: 73–102, 2008     

Reactivity of La1 ? xSrxFeO3 ? y (x = 0–1) Perovskites in Oxidation Reactions

Oxygen species and their reactivity in La_{1 − x} Sr _x FeO_{3 − y} perovskites prepared using mechanochemical activation were studied by temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) with hydrogen and methane. The experimental data were compared with data on the catalytic activity in oxidation reactions. It was found that the rates of CO and methane oxidation on the perovskites in the presence of gas-phase oxygen correlated (k = 0.8) with the amount of reactive surface oxygen species that were removed by TPR with hydrogen up to 250°C. Maximum amounts of this oxygen species were released from two-phase samples (x = 0.3, 0.4, and 0.8), which exhibited an enhanced activity in the reaction of CO oxidation. In the absence of oxygen in the gas phase, methane is oxidized by lattice oxygen. In this case, the process activity and selectivity depend on the mobility of lattice oxygen, which is determined by the temperature, the degree of substitution, the degree of reduction, and the microstructure of the oxide. Thus, the high mobility of oxygen, which is reached at high concentrations of point defects or interphase/domain boundaries, is of importance for the process of deep oxidation. However, the process of partial oxidation occurs in single-phase samples at low degrees of substitution (x = 0.1–0.2). __________ Translated from Kinetika i Kataliz, Vol. 46, No. 5, 2005, pp. 773–779. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2005 by Isupova, Yakovleva, Alikina, Rogov, Sadykov.     

Formation of halocarbons in the methane—alkaline halide crystal system under UV radiation

The possibility of formation of halomethanes upon the photostimulated reaction of halogen-containing minerals with methane was shown. The dynamics of accumulation of chloromethane, dichloromethane, and chloroform in model systems CH₄−NaCl, CH₄−sylvinite, and CH₄−halite was studied experimentally. The kinetic parameters for the formation of methyl chloride were determined. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1965–1968, October, 1998.     

Kinetic simulation of the enzymatic oxidation of methane

The kinetics of methane oxidation by methane monooxygenase is simulated numerically. Literature data on the distribution of products of the oxidation of deuterated methane CH_{4 ? n} D _n (CH₃D, CH₂D₂, and CHD₃), as well as on the kinetic isotope effect in the competitive oxidation of CH₄ and CD₄ by methane monooxygenase, are analyzed in the framework of a nonradical multistep mechanism. Kinetic schemes whose first step involves two hydrogen atoms of the oxidation substrate are considered. The kinetic models suggested for methane oxidation are in good agreement with experimental data.     

Kinetic Simulation of Methane and Ethane Hydroxylation by Methane Monooxygenase

According to the mechanism of alkane hydroxylation, whose main postulate is the formation of an intermediate complex containing pentacoordinated carbon, the hydroxylation of methane and ethane by methane monooxygenase was kinetically simulated by the numerical method. The published data on the kinetic isotope effects of oxidation of deuterium-substituted methane molecules (CHD₃, CH₂D₂, and CH₃D) and the distribution of products of chiral ethane (R- and S-MeCHDT) oxidation by methane monooxygenase were examined. The kinetic models proposed for the oxidation of isotopically substituted methane and ethane are in good agreement with experimental data.     

Activities of δ-Al2O3-supported bimetallic Pt?NiO and Co?NiO catalysts for methane autoreforming: Oxidation studies

The methane oxidation activities of Pt−NiO and Co−NiO bimetallic catalysts have been investigated as part of a larger research program on the autothermal reforming of methane (combined methane oxidation and steam reforming) in a fluidized bed reactor. Experiments at atmospheric pressure and 783–1023 K for both catalysts showed that the reaction was more selective towards H₂ production at CH₄∶O₂ ratios greater than unity. Light-off temperature increased with decreasing CH₄∶O₂ ratios, but increase in gas velocity (beyond minimum fluidization) increased the light-off temperature. Co−NiO was as promising as the more expensive Pt−NiO catalyst for the oxidation.     

Syngas Conversion over Co4 Cluster Grafted on HZSM-5 Zeolite: Mechanistic Insights from DFT Modeling

We present a detailed DFT-based mechanistic investigation of syngas conversion mechanism over Co₄ cluster grafted onto HZSM-5 zeolite, [Co₄H], employing a QM/MM embedded cluster approach. Starting from the [Co₄H] complex, our results show that a favorable coordination of CO over H₂, followed by CO hydrogenation leads to a stable −CH₂O complex, [Co₄(CH₂O)(H)]. Coordination of a second CO molecule to [Co₄(CH₂O)(H)] complex, followed by CH₂−O bond activation, and subsequent removal of CO as CO₂ results in the formation of crucial methylene complex [Co₄(CH₂)(H)], serving as a branching point for the pathways leading to methane, ethene, and ethane. On the pathway to ethene formation, coordination of a third CO molecule to [Co₄(CH₂)(H)] complex yields the active [Co₄(CH₂)(CO)(H)] complex, which is 16.0 kcal mol⁻¹ more stable than the methyl complex [Co₄(CH₃)] on the pathway to methane. From the active species [Co₄(CH₂)(CO)(H)], we demonstrate that the pathways to both methane and ethene are competing in nature, with the −CH₃ hydrogenation barrier, 35.1 kcal mol⁻¹, is lower by only 1.3 kcal mol⁻¹ than the competing C−O bond activation barrier on the pathway to ethene, 36.4 kcal mol⁻¹. However, the significant stability of the active species [Co₄(CH₂)(CO)(H)] effectively compensates for this minor difference in barriers, ultimately favoring the formation of ethene over methane. Finally, the ethene desorption barrier is 4.1 kcal mol⁻¹ lower than the ethene hydrogenation barrier on the pathway to ethane, indicating the ease of ethene removal from the system. Overall, our DFT study describes that the syngas conversion mechanism catalyzed by [Co₄H] system produces ethene selectively via 4CO+2H₂→C₂H₄+2CO₂.     

Nickel-copper-chromium catalyst for selective methane oxidation to synthesis gas at short residence times

Data on the selective oxidation of methane to synthesis gas on a 9% NiCuCr/2% Ce/(ϑ + α)-Al₂O₃ catalyst in dilute mixtures with Ar at short residence times (2–3 ms) are presented. The composition, structure, morphology, and adsorption properties of the catalyst with respect to oxygen and hydrogen before and after reaction were studied using XRD, BET, electron microscopy with electron microdiffraction, TPR, TPO, and TPD of oxygen and hydrogen. The following optimum conditions for the preparation and pretreatment of the catalyst for selective methane reduction were found: the incipient wetness impregnation of a support with aqueous nitrate solutions; drying; and heating in air at 873 and then at 1173 K (for 1 h at either temperature) followed by reduction with an H₂-Ar mixture at 1173 K for 1 h. At a residence time of 2–3 ms (space velocity to 1.5 × 10⁶ h⁻¹) and 1073–1173 K, the resulting catalyst afforded an 80–100% CH₄ conversion in mixtures with O₂ (CH₄/O₂ = 2: 1) diluted with argon (97.2–98.0%) to synthesis gas with H₂/CO = 2: 1. The selectivity of CO and H₂ formation was 99.6–100 and 99–100%, respectively; CO₂ was almost absent from the reaction products. The catalyst activity did not decrease for 56 h; carbon deposition was not observed. A possible mechanism of the direct oxidation of CH₄ to synthesis gas is considered.     

Effect of Nonthermal Plasma on the Methanation of Carbon Monoxide over Nickel Catalyst

Reduction of carbon monoxide to methane by hydrogen was investigated with a nonthermal plasma reactor in which Ni/alumina catalyst pellets was filled. The effect of reaction temperature, pressure and voltage on the conversion of CO was examined. It was found that the nonthermal plasma significantly enhanced the catalytic conversion of CO. The effect of the nonthermal plasma was especially remarkable at lower temperatures and pressures. At high temperatures, the catalyst itself exhibited very high catalytic activity for the conversion of CO. Since high pressure is unfavorable for creating electrical discharge plasma, the increase in pressure lowered the discharge power, thereby weakening the effect of the nonthermal plasma. With the nonthermal plasma alone, there was no conversion of CO. The reaction products identified by FTIR spectra were CH₄, CO₂ and H₂O. FTIR spectra also showed that CO was converted primarily into CH₄ with high selectivity above 90% at most experimental conditions.