Revisiting the oxidative coupling of methane to ethylene in the golden period of shale gas: A review

Catalytic upgrading of methane in natural gas and/or shale gas via oxidative methane coupling (OMC) is an important option tailored by industry for meeting the global ethylene demand. The paper carefully captured and analyzed recent literature on the progress made regarding the OMC reaction. The review covers issues related to the catalytic strategies adopted for enhancing methane conversion, improving ethylene yield and lowering the reaction temperatures. The potentials and challenges of shale gas as an alternative to natural gas for the OMC process were adequately highlighted.

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