Oxidative coupling of methane to C2+ hydrocarbons
over a Zr/La/Sr catalyst was investigated in
an atmospheric-pressure shallow fluidized-bed reactor (i.d. = 5 cm;
H
mf = 1.4−3.2 cm) at
temperatures between 800 and 880 °C. The catalyst was
mechanically and catalytically stable,
but its fluidizability was limited; agglomeration and channeling
occurred. The highest C2+ yield
amounted to 18.0% (X
CH
4
= 36.5%, S
C
2+
=
49.4%) and 17.2% (X
CH
4
= 36.6%, S
C
2+
=
46.9%) for the
diluted (p
O
2
= 17 kPa,
p
CH
4
= 41.5 kPa,
p
N
2
= 41.5 kPa) and
undiluted feed (p
O
2
=
28 kPa,
p
CH
4
= 72 kPa), respectively. These yields are among the highest ones
reported in the open literature
for OCM in fluidized beds. In the whole investigated temperature
range higher selectivities
and yields were obtained upon reducing partial pressures of methane and
oxygen but keeping
their ratio constant
(p
CH
4
/p
O
2
= 2.5). An increased gas velocity (from
u/u
mf = 6 to 10) or
bed
height (from 1.4 to 3.2 cm) resulted in a drop of C2+
selectivity.
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