Direct conversion of CH4 into high-value-added products has been a long-standing challenge because CH4 exhibits high C-H bond strength (434 kJ/mol), negligible electron affinity, and low polarizability. Since Wang et al. [1] reported in 1993 that methane dehydroaromatization (MDA) to aromatics could be realized over Mo/HZSM-5, Mo containing zeolites are still considered as one of the most adequate catalysts. However, the major challenges of this process include the extremely low equilibrium conversion (~12% at 973K) and severe deactivation due to the rapid build-up of carbonaceous deposits on the Mo-based catalysts. It is believed that deactivation is mainly due to the coke buildup on Mo species at the external surface of ZSM-5. In this presentation, we will focus on two new leads out of Prof. Zhang’s group at Beijing University of Chemical Technology. The first leads is related to using methanol cofeed to move methane to aromatics equilibrium, thus increasing methane conversion while shift product to methylated aromatics. We will also discuss the imbedment of Mo sites into ZSM-5 crystal using an in situ synthesis strategy via hydrothermal method – Mo@HZSM-5. The catalyst showed stable performance for methane conversion with little coking.

Direct methane conversion to aromatics

254th National Meeting (2017)

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