STUDY OF THE CATALYTIC TECHNOLOGY IN THE OXIDATIVE COUPLING OF METHANE

The temperature of the catalyst bed in the oxidative coupling ofmethane would rise and be higher than the wall temperature when the amountof catalyst, the space velocity and the ratio of oxygen to methane wereincreased. Various aspects of the catalytic technology including the thickness ofthe catalyst bed, the mode of catalyst charge, the ratio of CH_4 to O_2 and thespece velocity were studied. An optimum temperature of the catalyst bed forhigher methane conversion and C_2 selectivity was investigated. It was foundthat the burning of methane in the gas phase to form CO occurred at certaintemperatures with some ratios of oxygen to methane. Additionally, the effectof adding water to the reaction feed gas was studied.