Methane Conversion on Silica-Supported 12-Molybdophosphoric Acid in the Presence of Dichloro- or Tetrachloromethane

Article abstract of DOI:10.1021/j100343a060

In the oxidation of methane with nitrous oxide on silica-supported 12-molybdophosphoric acid, the addition of small quantities of dichloro (DCM)- or tetrachloromethane (TCM) to the feed stream increases the activity and the yield of formaldehyde.With either additive the yield of formaldehyde reaches a maximum value at approximately 0.2-0.3 mol percent additive.The selectivity of CH3Cl is somewhat higher with TCM than with DCM.In the absence of a chloro additive, the formation of CO appears to be primarily sequential to the formation of H2CO, but, in the presence of either DCM or TCM, CO is additionally produced by a simultaneous path.However, in both cases CO2 is formed by a process which appears to be independent of those producing CO and H2CO.Evidence suggests that the chloromethanes are interacting with the catalyst to accelerate the decomposition of the nitrous oxide.