Methane adsorption and plasma-assisted catalytic conversion on the surface of gamma-alumina

Diffuse scattering IR spectroscopy was applied to study the adsorption and plasma-assisted catalytic conversion of methane (deuteromethane) on the surface of gamma-alumina. It was found that CH4 adsorption sites on the gamma-Al2O3 surface were formed by molecular and dissociative mechanisms under the action of an electric-discharge plasma at room temperature. As distinct from gamma-radiolysis, plasma treatment leads to the formation of acetylene in addition to other hydrocarbon products, aluminum hydrides, and surface hydroxyl groups. Plausible mechanisms were proposed for plasma-assisted catalytic reactions in the gamma-Al2O3-adsorbed CH4(CD4) system.