Oxidative Dimerization of Methane over Lanthanum Oxide

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/j100276a004

Under oxygen-limiting conditions La2O3 is a reasonably selective catalyst for the conversion of methane to ethane and ethylene (C2 compounds).At 725 deg C a selectivity to C2 compounds of 47percent was achieved at a CH4 conversion of 9.4percent.Although La2O3 is very effective in the generation of gas-phase CH3. radicals, which are believed to be intermediates in the oxidative dimerization, the catalyst also is active for the complete oxidation of C2H6 under the reaction conditions.Higher reaction temperatures favor C2H4 which may be formed from C2H6 via gas-phase reactions.