Oxidative coupling of methane over lithium-promoted magnesium oxide catalysts in fixed-bed and fluidized-bed reactors

Abstract

The oxidative coupling of methane to higher hydrocarbons over lithium-promoted magnesium oxide (Li/MgO) catalysts has been conducted in fixed- and fluidized-bed reactors. The fixed-bed reactor gave encouraging results, but methane conversion was limited to 15% due to the need to avoid excessive temperature gradients being generated over the catalyst bed. By contrast, the fluidized-bed reactor operated essentially isothermally at methane conversions in excess of 40% using methane/oxygen mixtures (without diluents) well inside the explosive limits