The upgrading of natural gas is a ubiquitous goal of industrial chemical processes, and can be achieved through catalysis. The ability to upgrade the most abundant natural gas component, methane, to valuable chemicals is highly desirable. Our research focusses on the direct conversion of methane towards liquid chemicals instead of the indirect path via syngas. A series of catalysts comprised of molybdenum oxide incorporated in the internal framework of a zeolite were synthesized via incipient wetness impregnation and further carburized to molybdenum carbide. Novel parameters for the preparation of the catalyst were introduced, and their effect on the structural and catalytic properties was analyzed through Operando Raman-MS spectroscopy. Kinetic studies in the aromatization of methane, assisted by co-feeding alcohols were performed on various samples to determine the optimal conditions for maximizing activity, selectivity and stability towards alkyl aromatic products. Our preliminary results show a correlation between the activity/selectivity-stability with the condition for the carburization process. In summary, we will be presenting our results in the conversion of methane towards alkyl aromatics using Mo2C-containing zeolite catalysts. In addition, we will be presenting a new approach in the preparation of the catalytic materials as well as proper (transient and steady-state) kinetic studies to convert methane and improve productivity towards alkyl aromatics.

Alcohol assisted methane dehydroaromatization over different Mo2C- containing zeolite catalysts

255th National Meeting (2018)

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