KINETIC LIMIT OF THE ETHANE AND ETHYLENE YIELD IN THE GAS-PHASE CONDENSATION OF METHANE

A kinetic simulation of the initiated oxidative condensation of methan e in the gas phase showed that the additional generation of methyl rad icals via the reaction CH4 +/- O-2 -->, CH3 + HO2 causes a nearly tenf old increase in the C-2 hydrocarbon yield. However, a kinetic limit of the yield exists that is close to that determined in experiments on t he catalytic oxidative condensation of methane.