The simultaneous activation of methane and carbon dioxide to C2 hydrocarbons under pulse corona plasma over La2O3/γ-Al2O3 catalyst

The pulse corona plasma has been used as an activation method for reaction of methane and carbon dioxide, the product was C-2 hydrocarbons and by-products were CO and H-2. Methane conversion and the yield of C-2 hydrocarbons were affected by the carbon dioxide concentration in the feed. The conversion of methane increased with increasing carbon dioxide concentration in the feed whereas the yield of C-2 hydrocarbons decreased. The synergism of La2O3/gamma-Al2O3 and plasma gave methane conversion of 24.9% and C-2 hydrocarbons yield of 18.1% were obtained at the power input of plasma was 30 W. The distribution of C2 hydrocarbons changed by using Pd-La2O3/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst, the major C-2 product was ethylene. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.