Partial oxidation of methane to syngas over Co/MgO catalysts. Is it low temperature?

Abstract

Co/MgO catalysts with high Co-loading (>28 wt%) are able to initiate the reaction of methane with oxygen at temperatures around 500 °C. High conversions of methane (∼ 70%) and very high selectivities for hydrogen and carbon monoxide (∼ 90%) are obtained at very high reactant gas space velocities (10⁵–10⁶ h⁻¹). The temperature of the catalyst at the conditions of partial oxidation of methane to form syngas was found to be extremely high (1200–1300 °C); it is about 600–850 °C higher than that previously reported by others. At these temperatures, high temperature homogeneous reactions may prevail. It is suggested that combustion of methane to carbon dioxide occurs on the catalyst with major heat release and that methane and water, respectively methane and carbon dioxide are reformed thermally in an endothermic reaction leading to syngas.