Catalytic Effects of Metals on the Conversion of Methane in Gliding Discharges

Abstract

Abstract Plasma‐catalytic methane conversion was studied under gliding‐discharge conditions using a mobile (spouted) catalytic bed of fine particles. A new model of the GD reactor was tested for the non‐oxidative methane coupling using alumina‐supported catalysts containing Cu, Ni, Ag or Pt resistant against the plasma action. C 2 hydrocarbons, besides hydrogen, were the main products, with some amounts of non‐volatile substances (mainly soot). With Cu/Al 2 O 3 , Ni/Al 2 O 3 , Ag/Al 2 O 3 , and alumina beds, acetylene was mainly produced from the CH 4 + H 2 mixture with none or a minor share of other C 2 hydrocarbons. Using Pt/Al 2 O 3 , an increased ethylene and ethane content was found with lower acetylene content. magnified image