Nonoxidative conversion of methane and n-pentane over a platinum/alumina catalyst

Abstract

Methane adsorption on the Pt–H/Al₂O₃ and Pt/Al₂O₃ catalysts begins at Т = 475°C and is accompanied by the appearance of hydrogen in the reaction medium. At a higher temperature is raised to 550°C, the amount of adsorbed hydrogen increases to 1.1 and 0.8 mol/(mol Pt), respectively. According to the calculated degree of methane dehydrogenation on platinum sites at Т = 550°C, the Н/C ratio is 1.3 (at/at) for the Pt–H/Al₂O₃ catalyst and 1.5 (at/at) for the Pt/Al₂O₃ catalyst. The introduction of n-pentane into the reaction medium increases the yield of aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene and toluene) by a factor of 8.8 over the arene yield observed in individual n-pentane conversion. A mass spectrometric analysis of the arenes obtained with the Pt/Al₂O₃ catalyst has demonstrated that 37.5% of the adsorbed methane is involved in the methane–n-pentane coaromatization yielding benzene and toluene.