INFLUENCE OF SUPPORT ON SURFACE BASICITY AND CATALYTIC ACTIVITY IN OXIDATIVE COUPLING OF METHANE OF LI-MGO DEPOSITED ON DIFFERENT COMMERCIAL CATALYST CARRIERS

Deposition of Li-MgO catalyst on commonly used supports (containing Si O2, Al2O3, SiC, ZrO2, HfO2, etc.) causes a drastic reduction in the ca talytic activity/selectivity for the oxidative methane coupling reacti on and also in both the total and strong surface basicity. The decreas e in the catalytic activity/selectivity and basicity is attributed to strong chemical interactions between the catalyst and support which oc cur during the high temperature (750 degrees C) calcination/pretreatme nt of the catalyst. The chemical interactions result in catalytically less active binary and ternary metal oxides containing Li and/or Mg, t hus deactivating the Li-MgO catalyst by consuming its active component s. (C) 1998 SCI.