(55a) The Conversion of Methane to Ethylene and Ethane Over Mn, Mg Oxides

The world’s oil-depletion problem makes natural gas the focus of ever growing attention as an alternative raw material for petrochemical production. Conventionally, methane is converted to liquid hydrocarbons via complex multistage processes. They are run at high pressures and temperatures and entail large capital investments.In this situation, a good practice will consist incarrying out one-stage conversion of methane to ethylene, in particular, oxidative dimerization of methane at close to atmospheric pressures. In this work new type of catalysts, based on oxides of lanthanum, manganese and magnesium with the addition of alkaline metal chlorides as a promoter, were elaborated.  All catalysts were deposited on silicagel ASKG. Submitted catalysts were prepared by impregnating the carrier with solutions of nitrates and chlorides of the metals. The catalytic activity of prepared samples was studied by flow-type unit. The reactor was a quartz tube 500 mm long with a diameter of 40 mm and a pocket for a thermocouple. Reactor type - reactor with a fixed bed catalyst. The best results were reached on catalysts promoted with alkaline earth metal chlorides. Particularly high yields of ethylene (about 15%) were achieved on the manganese and magnesium catalyst with NaCl as promoter.