Mechanistic Study of Partial Oxidation of Methane to Syngas Using In Situ Time‐Resolved FTIR and Microprobe Raman Spectroscopies

In situ time-resolved Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and microprobe Raman spectroscopies were used to characterize the reaction mechanisms of the partial oxidation of methane to syngas over SiO(2)- and gamma-Al(2)O(3)-supported rhodium and ruthenium catalysts. The interaction of both pure methane and a methane/oxygen mixture at a stoichiometric feed ratio with an oxygen-rich catalyst surface led to the formation of CO2 and H(2)O as the primary products. For the H(2)-pretreated samples, the reaction mechanisms with the catalysts differ. Only Rh/SiO(2) is capable of catalyzing the direct oxidation of methane to syngas, while syngas formation over Rh/gamma-Al(2)O(3), Ru/SiO(2), and Ru/gamma-Al(2)O(3) can be achieved mainly via a combustion-reforming scheme. The significant difference in the mechanisms for partial oxidation of methane to syngas over the catalysts can be correlated to the differences in the concentration of oxygen species (O(2-)) on the catalyst surface during the reaction, mainly due to the difference in the nature of the metals and supports.