On the role of a catalyst in high-temperature reactions of methane oxidation

Kinetic calculations of desired product yield were carried out and the reac tion time as a function of the intensity of methyl radical generation was a nalyzed for a number of gas-phase methane oxidation processes: oxidative co upling into ethane and ethylene, direct oxidation into methanol, and direct oxidation into formaldehyde. This analysis showed that the intensive addit ional generation of methyl leads to the highest values of desired product y ield available in catalytic experiments. To a first approximation, the role of a catalyst in the corresponding high-temperature methane oxidation reac tions is determined by its ability to generate (and to remove) methyl radic als. Correspondingly, the requirements of the catalysts of the processes ca n be formulated, and the optimal catalyst grain size (about 1 mm) can be es timated.