The role of gas hourly space velocity and feed composition for catalytic oxidative coupling of methane: Experimental study

A parametric study taking into account gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) and methane to oxygen ratio for the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) is applied. The GHSV and methane to oxygen ratio are shown to effect the methane conversion and selectivity towards ethane and ethylene. The importance of methane to oxygen ratio on catalytic performance is highlighted. The experiments are carried out in a differential tubular fixed bed reactor, using 0.7–1.5 g of titanate perovskite, Sn/BaTiO3, as the reaction catalyst at temperature of 1048 K. Different GHSVs (8000–12000 and 17000 h−1) and methane to oxygen ratios (1, 2, 3, 4 and 7.5) are selected. An optimum GHSV and methane to oxygen ratio is proposed in order to develop process toward maximization of desirable hydrocarbon product such as ethylene and ethane and minimization of carbon oxides production in isothermal performance of reactor. It is concluded that methane to oxygen ratio of 2 and GHSV of 8000–12000 h−1 are optimal conditions for achieving the highest yield of C2.