95 - Conversion of Methane over In-loaded ZSM-5 Zeolite in the Presence of Ethene

Abstract

The conversion of methane in the presence of ethene proceeded over metal cations, such as In + loaded on H-ZSM-5 at 673 K. Using 13 C-labeled methane ( 13 CH 4 ) as a reactant, propene is shown to be a primary product for the ethene reaction based on the observation of a significant proportion of singly 13 C-labeled propene ( 13 CC 2 H 6 ). ln-ZSM-5 catalyzes the formation of not only propene, but also benzene and toluene. 13 C label atoms are not found in the benzene thus produced, indicating that benzene originates entirely from ethene. However, the occurrence of singly 13 C-labeled toluene ( 13 CC 6 H 8 ) implies that toluene is formed by the reaction of benzene with methane. The alternative reaction path, involving 13 CC 6 H 8 formation by reaction of propene with butenes generated by ethene dimerization, can be refuted by confirmation of the toluene origin through direct reaction of 13 CH 4 with benzene. However, ZSM-5 unloaded with In cation, i.e. H-ZSM-5 only catalyzed C 2 H 4 conversion to higher hydrocarbons, such as propene, and no methane conversion occurs. These results indicate that methane activation proceeds on metal cations.