Energy & Fuels 1990,4,85-93
85
Oxidative Coupling of Methane over Lithium-Promoted Magnesium Oxide Catalysts in Fixed-Bed and Fluidized-Bed Reactors James H. Edwards,* Ralph J. Tyler, and Stephen D. White CSIRO Division of Coal Technology, P.O. Box 136, North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia Received July 19, 1989. Revised Manuscript Received October 23, 1989 The oxidative coupling of methane to higher hydrocarbons over lithium-promoted magnesium oxide (Li/MgO) catalysts has been conducted in fixed- and fluidized-bed reactors. The fixed-bed reactor gave encouraging results, but methane conversion was limited to 15% due to the need to avoid excessive temperature gradients being generated over the catalyst bed. By contrast, the fluidized-bed reactor operated essentially isothermally at methane conversions in excess of 40% using methane/oxygen mixtures (without diluents) well inside the explosive limits. However, agglomeration problems occurred unless the lithium content of the catalyst was
