EFFECT OF CARBON-DIOXIDE ON THE SELECTIVITIES OBTAINED DURING THE PARTIAL OXIDATION OF METHANE AND ETHANE OVER LI+ MGO CATALYSTS/

At T less-than-or-equal-to 650-degrees-C carbon dioxide either formed during reaction or added to the system increases the selectivity for t he desired hydrocarbon products during the oxidative coupling of metha ne and the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane reaction over Li+/MgO c atalysts. Similarly, CO2 inhibits secondary reactions of CH3.radicals with the surface of the Li+/MgO. The improved selectivities are attrib uted to the poisoning effect that CO2 has on the secondary reactions o f alkyl radicals with the surface.