OXIDATIVE COUPLING OF METHANE OVER THORIA BASED CATALYSTS

Active and selective oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) catalysts have shown to be high temperature p-type semiconductors. As thoria is also known to be a high temperature p-type oxide, however unknown as an OCM catalyst, thoria as well as alkaline earth and lanthanum containing thoria catalysts were tested and found to be active OCM catalysts. The addition of strontium to thoria leads to a 74% selectivity in coupling products at 100% oxygen and 14.8% methane conversion with a catalyst bed hot spot temperature of 880-degrees-C.