Partial Oxidation of Methane to Syngas Using Lattice Oxygen of La1-xSrxFeO3

Catalytic partial oxidation of methane to syngas using the lattice oxygen of La1-xSrxFeO3 perovskite oxide catalysts in place of molecular oxygen was studied. La1-xSrxFeO3 (x＝0, 0.1, 0.2,0.5) perovskite oxides were prepared by the "auto-combustion method". XRD analysis showed that all La1-xSrxFeO3 samples have a single-phase perovskite-type oxide. The redox properties of the catalysts were investigated by temperature programmed reduction with hydrogen (H2-TPR). Reducibility of the catalysts increase with the increasing of the Sr2+ content. The oxygen species of the catalysts and their reaction with CH4 were studied by the temperature programmed surface reaction (CH4-TPSR). In the absence of gas phase oxygen, there exist two kinds of oxygen species on the catalysts. One kind of the oxygen species with strong oxidative ability is produced first, which can oxidize CH4 completely to CO2 and H2O.Then, the second oxygen species with weak oxidative ability is formed, which can oxidize CH4 partially to CO and H2 with high selectivity. The number of the oxygen species with strong oxidative ability in the CH4-TPSR tends to become zero at low x values (x≤0.1). Under suitable reaction conditions, switching alternatively the reactions of 11% O2-Ar and 11% CH4-He over a La0.sSr0.2FeO3 catalyst at 900 ℃ allows methane to be selectively converted to synthesis gas (CH4 conversion ～90%, CO selectivity ＞93%) using the lattice oxygen of the perovskite oxide catalyst in a redox mode.