LIGHT PARAFFIN OXIDATIVE CONVERSION IN A SILENT ELECTRIC-DISCHARGE

Methane, ethane, and their mixtures with oxygen have been passed throu gh the silent electric discharge at various operating conditions. Besi des carbon oxides and water, formaldehyde and methanol.from methane an d acetaldehyde and ethanol from ethane were the other major products. The effect of temperature, pressure, discharge voltage, contact time, and oxygen concentration have been examined. The rate of oxygen consum ption is almost independent of oxygen concentration and depends mainly on the discharge voltage. The selectivities of methanol formation fro m methane and ethanol formation from ethane were 20 and 15%, respectiv ely.