A process for a high yield of aromatics from the oxygen-free conversion of methane: combining plasma with Ni/HZSM-5 catalysts

Abstract

A process for a high yield of aromatics and co-produced hydrogen from the oxygen-free conversion of methane using a two-stage plasma-followed-by-catalyst (PFC) reactor at atmospheric pressure and low temperature is reported. Pure methane and a methane and hydrogen mixture as the feed gas for the two-stage PFC process were investigated, respectively. Using the methane and hydrogen mixture as the feed gas into the two-stage PFC reactor, Ni/HZSM-5 catalysts keep stable catalytic activity for a much longer on-stream time than that using pure methane as the feed gas. The maximum aromatic yield may be achieved using low Ni-loading Ni/HZSM-5 catalysts and at a suitable catalyst temperature.