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Conversion of Methane into Methanol and Ethanol over Nickel Oxide on Ceria–Zirconia Catalysts in a Single Reactor |
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| Authors: | Chukwuemeka Okolie Yasmeen F. Belhseine Yimeng Lyu Dr. Matthew M. Yung Dr. Mark H. Engelhard Dr. Libor Kovarik Dr. Eli Stavitski Dr. Carsten Sievers |
| Affiliation: | 1. School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 311 Ferst Drive NW, Atlanta, GA, 30332 USA;2. National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 80401 USA;3. Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Lab, Richland, WA, 99354 USA;4. National Synchrotron Light Source II, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, 11973 USA |
| Abstract: | The conversion of methane into alcohols under moderate reaction conditions is a promising technology for converting stranded methane reserves into liquids that can be transported in pipelines and upgraded to value‐added chemicals. We demonstrate that a catalyst consisting of small nickel oxide clusters supported on ceria–zirconia (NiO/CZ) can convert methane to methanol and ethanol in a single, steady‐state process at 723 K using O2 as an abundantly available oxidant. The presence of steam is required to obtain alcohols rather than CO2 as the product of catalytic combustion. The unusual activity of this catalyst is attributed to the synergy between the small Lewis acidic NiO clusters and the redox‐active CZ support, which also stabilizes the small NiO clusters. |
| Keywords: | C– H activation heterogeneous catalysis Lewis acids methane nickel |