Low-temperature activation of methane over rare earth metals promoted Zn/HZSM-5 zeolite catalysts in the presence of ethylene

At low temperature of 723 K, methane can be easily activated in the presence of ethylene in the feed, and converted to higher hydrocarbons (C2–C4) and aromatics (C6–C10), through its reaction over rare metals modified Zn/HZSM-5 zeolite catalysts without undesirable carbon oxides formation. Methane can get 37.3% conversion over the above catalysts under low temperature, and the catalysts show a longer lifetime than usual metal supported HZSM-5 zeolite catalysts without adding any rare earth metals. The effects of methane activation over various rare earth metal promoted Zn/HZSM-5 catalysts on the products and influences of several reaction conditions such as temperature, catalyst lifetime and molar ratio of CH4/C2H4 have been discussed.