Characterization of Na2O–MnOx–CuOy catalysts for the oxidative dimerization of methane

Abstract

Catalytic and structural effects of copper incorporation into Na₂O–MnO_x catalysts used for the oxidative dimerization of methane have been studied by catalytic testing, X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) and magnetic susceptibility measurements. Catalysts containing copper revealed an increase in the C₂ hydrocarbon yield based on interactions between the copper and manganese ions within a complex oxide structure. The state of the transition-metal ions is explained by the equilibrium Cu^I+ Mn^IV⇌ Cu^II+ Mn^III, depending on the Mn/Cu ratio and the gas-phase composition.