Methane to Ethylene with 85 Percent Yield in a Gas Recycle Electrocatalytic Reactor-Separator

• DOI: 10.1126/science.264.5165.1563
• Publication Date: 2006-10-06T00:01:25Z
• Authors: Y. Jiang; I. V. Yentekakis; C. G. Vayenas
• Keywords: 01 natural sciences; 7. Clean energy; 0104 chemical sciences; 12. Responsible consumption

Methane was oxidatively coupled to ethylene with an ethylene yield up to 85 percent and a total C 2 hydrocarbon yield up to 88 percent in a gas recycle high-temperature (800°C) electrocatalytic or catalytic reactor where the recycled gas passes continuously through a molecular sieve trap in the recycle loop. Oxygen is supplied either electrocatalytically by means of the solid electrolyte support of the silver-based catalyst or in the gas phase. The C 2 products are obtained by subsequent heating of the molecular sieve trap. The selectivity to ethylene is up to 88 percent for methane conversion up to 97 percent.