摘要
Selective coupling of methyl radicals to produce C_(2) species(C2H4 and C2H6)is a key challenge for oxidative coupling of methane(OCM).In traditional OCM reaction systems,homogeneous transformation of methyl radicals in O_(2)‐containing gases are uncontrollable,resulting in limited C_(2) selectivity and yield.Herein,we demonstrate that methyl radicals generated by La_(2)O_(3)at low reaction temperature can selectively couple on the surface of 5 wt%Na2WO4/SiO_(2).The controllable surface coupling against overoxidation barely changes the activity of La_(2)O_(3)but boosts the C_(2)selectivity by three times and achieves a C_(2)yield as high as 10.9%at bed temperature of only 570℃.Structure‐property studies suggest that Na_(2)WO_(4) nanoclusters are the active sites for methyl radical coupling.The strong CH_(3)·affinity of these sites can even endow some methane combustion catalysts with OCM activity.The findings of the surface coupling of methyl radicals open a new direction to develop OCM catalyst.The bifunctional OCM catalyst system,which composes of a methane activation center and a CH_(3)·coupling center,may deliver promising OCM performance at reaction temperatures below the ignition temperature of C2H6 and C2H4(~600℃)and is therefore more controllable,safer,and certainly more attractive as an actual process.
天然气作为一种低碳清洁能源,其储量大,价格低,被认为是最有前途的石油替代资源之一.而以天然气的主要成分——甲烷为原料来生产高价值化学品被认为是石化工业中实现天然气取代石油为原料新化工路线的技术基础,具有极为可观的社会经济价值.目前甲烷的化学利用主要采用间接转化法,即先从甲烷制合成气,再由合成气制备各种化工原料和油品.但该路线流程复杂,能耗大,生产成本高及投资大,具有明显的局限性,这促使着人们不断探索能量效率更高的甲烷直接转化技术.甲烷氧化偶联(OCM)是最重要的甲烷直接转化技术之一.自1982首次报道以来,人们开发了1000多种OCM催化剂,涉及元素超过68种,但C_(2)烃类(乙烷和乙烯)的收率普遍低于30%,尚未实现工业化.传统研究认为,OCM反应遵循“多相-均相”催化反应机理,甲烷在催化剂表面活化产生甲基自由基后,在气相中进行偶联生成乙烷和乙烯等产物.由于高温下甲基自由基很容易脱附到气相,传统的OCM催化剂一般只在甲基自由基的产生这一步发挥作用.而随后在气相中发生的甲基自由基均相反应并不受催化剂控制,在热力学驱动下,会倾向于深度氧化生成CO2等副产物,因此OCM反应中C_(2)的收率上限为25%–28%.理论上来说,只有当催化剂能够在甲基自由基偶联这一步发挥作用时,C_(2)物种的收率才可能打破上限,但目前尚未有催化剂实现甲基自由基可控表面偶联.本文提出并证实5wt%Na_(2)WO_(4)/SiO_(2)(5NaWSi)具有催化甲基自由基表面偶联的能力.在低温下,5NaWSi本身对于OCM没有催化活性,但是它的加入能够显著提高La_(2)O_(3)催化剂的C_(2)选择性,进而提高C_(2)收率,使其在570℃的低温下即可达到10.9%的C_(2)收率.在La_(2)O_(3)和5NaWSi之间加入一层甲基自由基淬灭剂——石英砂,这种提升作用随即消失,表明甲基自由基在5NaWSi上的表面偶联可
基金
国家自然科学基金(92045301,91845203,21802122,21703050)
中国科学院合肥大科学中心重点研发项目(2018HSC-KPRD002).
