Plasma Catalytic Reaction of Methane with Sol-Gel-Derived Pt/γ-Al2O3 Catalyst in Dielectric- Barrier Discharge Reactor

Conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons was studied in a dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) reactor using a sol-gel-derived Pt/γ-Al2O3 catalyst. Prepared catalysts were reduced using a novel method, which we name plasma-assisted reduction (PAR). The effects of the Pt loading and the calcination tem- peratures on methane conversion, selectivities, and yields of products were studied. C2H6 ,C 2H4, and C2H2 were the main products in the DBD reactor in the absence of a catalyst, whereas the light alkanes C2H6 ,C 3H8, and C4H10 were the main products in the presence of the Pt/γ-Al2O3 catalyst. The selectivities of the light alkanes were enhanced with the Pt/γ-Al2O3 catalysts after PAR compared with those reactions performed without catalyst. The highest yield of C2H6 was 16.1 % when 3 wt% Pt/γ-Al2O3 was calcined at 600 o C. Methane conversions were between 28.2 and 53.2 % depending on the Pt loading and calcination temperature.