Conversion of carbon and alkali metal carbonates to hydrocarbons containing aromatic hydrocarbons by the reaction with copper oxides and aqueous alkaline solution

Reaction of activated carbon and copper(II) oxide in the presence of aqueous potassium carbonate solution at 380 or 400 degrees C gave mainly carbon dioxide, accompanied by the formation of hydrocarbons containing aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene and toluene. The similar reaction of copper(I) oxide gave mainly methane, accompanied by formation of smaller amounts of carbon dioxide, benzene, and toluene than the reaction of copper(II) oxide. Although the reaction of copper(II) oxide with aqueous potassium carbonate solution did not give hydrocarbons in the absence of activated carbon, the reaction of copper(I) oxide with aqueous potassium carbonate solution gave hydrocarbons even in the absence of activated carbon.