Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering, Vol.11, No.6, 649-655, 2003
Selective oxidation of light hydrocarbons using lattice oxygen instead of molecular oxygen
In this paper, selective oxidation of n-butane to maleic anhydride (MA) and partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas with lattice oxygen instead of molecular oxygen are investigated. For the oxidation of butane to MA in the absence of molecular oxygen, the Ce-Fe promoted VPO catalyst has more available lattice oxygen and provides higher conversion and selectivity than that of the unpromoted one. It is supposed that the introduction of Ce-Fe complex oxides improves redox performance of VPO catalyst and increases the activity of lattice oxygen. For partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas over LaFeO3 and La0.8Sr0.2FeO3 oxides, the reaction with flow switched between 11% O-2-Ar and 11% CH4-He at 900degreesC was carried out. The results show that methane can be oxidized to CO and H-2 with selectivity over 93% by the lattice oxygen of the catalyst in an appropriate reaction condition, while the lost lattice oxygen can be supplemented by air re-oxidation. It is viable for the lattice oxygen of the LaFeO3 and La0.8Sr0.2FeO3 catalyst instead of molecular oxygen to react with methane to synthesis gas in the redox mode.
Keywords:selective oxidation;lattice oxygen;n-butane;maleic anhydride;Ce-Fe promoted VPO catalysts;methane;synthesis gas;La1-xSrxFeO3 perovskite catalysts