Pyrolysis of Methane on a Fechral Resistive Catalyst under Addition of Hydrogen or Oxygen into Reaction Mixture

Abstract

The influence of addition of oxygen or hydrogen to the reaction mixture (CH4 + N2) on the pyrolysis of methane at temperatures from 700 to 1400 °C was studied with a pre-calcined fechral spiral heated by an electric current. It is shown that under conditions of both anoxic and oxidative pyrolysis, at the ratios of methane/oxygen 15/1 and 9/1, the reaction proceeds in two temperature areas that differ in the selectivities toward main products (C2 hydrocarbons). After addition of hydrogen, the pyrolysis of methane proceeds only at high temperatures to form primarily acetylene. Addition of both hydrogen and oxygen leads to a shift of maximal conversions of methane and selectivities toward acetylene into a high temperature region, thus extending the temperature range of the catalyst operation.