J. Phys. IV France 123 (2005) 301-305
DOI: 10.1051/jp4:2005123054

Methane conversion to higher alkanes over ruthenium and cobalt loaded Zr₃(PO₄)₄

N. Cheikhi and M. Ziyad

Faculté des Sciences, Laboratoire de Physico-Chimie des Matériaux et Catalyse, Département de Chimie, BP. 1014, Rabat, Maroc

Abstract
The catalyst Ru-Co/Zr₃(PO₄)₄ was synthesized by impregnation and was tested in the reaction of oligomerization of methane into higher hydrocarbon. The reaction was carried out using a two-steps procedure consisting of:

- Methane adsorption.

- Hydrogenation of the adsorbed entities and formation of higher hydrocarbons.

The production of these alkanes extends from ethane to pentane and could schematically be described by the following pathways:

The results showed that addition of cobalt to ruthenium improved the global activity. This promoter effect was attributed to the synergy brought in by cobalt and to the formation of Ru-CO²⁺ species which are more active than ruthenium alone. These species were identified by EDX-STEM and XPS analyses.

© EDP Sciences 2005