Effects of incorporated lead and chlorine on the oxidation of ethane on strontium hydroxyapatites

Abstract

The oxidation of ethane in the presence and absence of tetrachloromethane (TCM) has been examined at 773 K on strontium hydroxyapatite (SrHAp). Introduction of lead in strontium hydroxyapatite resulted in the enhancement of the formation of the deep oxidation product CO₂ in the absence of TCM. On addition of TCM to the ethane conversion feedstream, the conversion of ethane and the selectivity to CO₂ decreased with increasing time-on-stream while the selectivity to ethene markedly increased. Although chlorides together with chlorapatites formed from the corresponding hydroxyapatites during the oxidation are believed to be responsible for the effects produced by the addition of TCM, the participation of non-structural chlorine cannot be excluded.