Methane Formation From Solid Carbon and Hydrogen by the Use of Physically Mixed Catalysts

Abstract

Methane formation from active carbon and H2 by the use of physically mixed metal on silica catalysts was investigated. Methane formation was found only in the initial several ten minutes, by the end of which oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of active carbon had been depleted. The reactivity of carbon was regenerated by the contact with gaseous oxygen. It is concluded that hydrogen atoms, dissociated on metal surface and transferred to the carbon surface by interparticle spillover, react with surface functional groups to yield methane.