Research Trends in Development of Highly Active Single Metal Oxide Catalyst for Oxidative Coupling of Methane

Abstract

The conversion of methane to a value-added chemical is important for methane utilization and industrial demand for primary chemicals. Oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) to C2 hydrocarbons is one of the most attractive ways to use natural gas. However, it is difficult to obtain higher C2 yield in classic OCM reaction due to a favorable COx formation. Regarding this, various catalysts for OCM have been studied to fulfill desirable C2 yields. In this review, we briefly overview the single metal oxide types of OCM catalysts (alkaline-earth metal oxides and rare-earth metal oxides) and highlight the characteristics of catalysts in OCM reaction such as methane activation, surface basicity and lattice oxygen.