SYNTHESIS OF ETHYLENE BY PARTIAL OXIDATION OF METHANE OVER THE OXIDES OF TRANSITION ELEMENTS WITH LiCl

The synthesis of ethylene directly from methane has been tested in the presence of oxygen over the LiCl-added transition metal oxides. The oxides of Mn and Ni with LiCl produced ethylene with high selectivity (ca. 60%) and yield (ca. 27%) under the following experimental conditions: T=1023 K, P(CH4)/P(O2)=2/1, P(CH4)=5.1 kPa, and W/F=600–1200 g l−1s.