LaCl3-based catalysts for oxidative chlorination of CH4

LaCl3 is an active, selective and stable catalyst for oxidative chlorination of methane to methyl chloride. Selective conversion to methyl chloride can be achieved by limiting methane conversion, for example, by using an excess of methane in the feed. Methylene chloride and carbon monoxide are the main side products at higher methane conversion levels. Transient OCl− anion, formed by oxidation of Cl− in LaOCl and LaCl3 with molecular oxygen, is proposed to be the active site for the initial step of methane activation. CO x formation is proposed to proceed through the formation of adsorbed multiply substituted chloromethanes.