CONVERSION OF METHANE TO BENZENE OVER MO2C AND MO2C ZSM-5 CATALYSTS/

The activation and dehydrogenation of CH4 on Mo2C and Mo2C/ZSM-5 have been investigated under non-oxidizing conditions. Unsupported Mo2C exh ibited very little activity towards methane decomposition at 973 K. Th e main reaction pathway was the decomposition of methane to give hydro gen and carbon with a trace amount of ethane. Mixing Mo2C with ZSM-5 s upport somewhat enhanced its catalytic activity, but did not change th e products of the reaction. A dramatic change in the product formation occurred on partially oxidized Mo2C/ZSM-5 catalyst; besides some hydr ocarbons benzene was produced with a selectivity of 70-80% at a conver sion of 5-7%. Carburization of highly dispersed MoO3 on ZSM-5 also led to a very active catalyst: the conversion of methane at the steady st ate was 5-6% and the selectivity of benzene formation was 85%.