METHANE OXIDATIVE COUPLING ON THE AU LA2O3/CAO CATALYST IN THE PRESENCE OF HYDROGEN-PEROXIDE/

Methane oxidative coupling in the presence of the catalyst 1% Au/5% La 2O3/CaO and gas-phase initiator hydrogen peroxide at the temperature 7 00-800 degrees C under normal pressure has been studied. It has been s hown that hydrogen peroxide remarkably increases the yield of C-2+ pro ducts without the loss of selectivity. The maximal yield of C-2+ produ cts under the conditions studied was 27% with the formation of a notic eable quantity of benzene. It has been proposed, that the observed eff ect is due to hydroxyl radical formation from hydrogen peroxide, which could be essential under definite conditions also in a conventional c atalytic methane oxidative coupling.