DEHYDROGENATION AND AROMATIZATION OF METHANE UNDER NONOXIDIZING CONDITIONS

The dehydrogenation and aromatization of methane on modified ZSM-5 zeolite catalysts has been studied under non-oxidizing conditions with a fixed bed continuous-flow reactor and with a temperature programmed reactor. The results show that benzene is the only hydrocarbon product of the catalytic conversion of methane at high temperature (973 K). The catalytic activity of ZSM-5 is greatly improved by incorporating a metal cation (Mo or Zn). H-2 and ethene have been directly detected in the products with a mass spectrometer during TPAR. A carbenium ion mechanism for the activation of methane is suggested.