Enhanced Methane Conversion to Olefins and Aromaticsby H‑Donor Molecules under Nonoxidative Condition

We report that methane activation to olefins and aromatics over iron coated catalytic quartz reactor can be enhanced by hydrogen radicals, which are provided by the thermal decomposition of hydrogen-donor molecules, such as 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene (THN) and benzene. Methane conversion increases from 19.7% to 25.5% in the presence of 1.41 % THN in methane at 1323 K. The onset temperature of C2H4 formation decreases from 1143 to 1073 K by adding 7.7% C6H6 into methane feed. Isotope experiments confirm the involvement of H radicals in the reaction, which activates methane homogeneously according to the reaction: •H + CH4 → H2 + •CH3, besides the heterogeneous activation over iron sites.