Kinetics of catalytic oxidation of methane: Application of initial rate technique for mechanism determination

Abstract

AbstractA kinetic investigation on the oxidation of methane using a palladium catalyst was conducted. Conversions of methane were small and limited to about 10% to facilitate the use of initial rate approach. Plots of initial rate against total pressure and varying feed composition were used to interpret the data qualitatively. Regression coefficients from linearized rate equations and criteria of best fit were used to arrive at a plausible mechanism. The experimental results indicated that the reaction rate is controlled by surface reaction in which the adsorbed oxygen and adsorbed methane react to produce adsorbed carbon dioxide and adsorbed water.