Catalytic oxidation of alkanes at millisecond contact times

Abstract

Publisher Summary Catalytic partial oxidation at very short contact times is a promising route to new chemicals and to catalytic destruction of volatile organic compounds. This chapter discusses experiments where these processes are used to produce syngas by partial oxidation of methane, olefins by partial oxidation of higher alkanes, and combustion products by total oxidation of alkanes. In excess, O2 similar processes produce primarily CO2 and H2O and these processes are very important to reduce pollution from NOx, CO, and unburned hydrocarbons in combustion to produce heat, radiation, and for the abatement of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air. In all these processes, the possibility of homogeneous reaction steps must be considered. Partial oxidation of methane-rich flames does produce syngas and steam cracking is a homogeneous process that produces olefins at comparable selectivities to those described in the chapter. These results can be explained as occurring by purely surface reaction steps. The main argument against the presence of significant homogeneous reaction in these systems is that the product distributions are somewhat different than would be predicted by homogeneous free radical reaction steps and that no carbon buildup is observed over many hours of operation.