Pyrolysis of Methane on Resistive MgO/SiC Catalyst

Dynamics of methane pyrolysis on the MgO/SiC catalyst was examined at different temperatures of the resistive catalyst. The conversion of methane on the MgO/SiC catalyst at 1200°C passes through a minimum (29%) by 60th minute, with the selectivity with respect to acetylene steadily increasing during the whole experiment. The scanning microscopy with EDAX analysis demonstrated that the full carbonization of the MgO/ SiC sample at 1200°C also occurs after 60 min of the experiment. It was found that a carbon coating of layered structure is formed on the catalyst surface in the course of the experiment, with C₂ hydrocarbons still present among the pyrolysis products. It was shown that carbon deposits formed on the surface of the MgO/SiC catalyst are catalytically active in the process of acetylene formation.