Reaction Kinetics of Oxidative Coupling of Methane in Solid Oxide Electrolyte Membrane Reactor

The oxidative coupling of methane and the effect of applied current on it were studied in a solid oxide electrolyte membrane reactor (Ag|YSZ|Ag). A reaction network was also proposed. The rates of methane consumption, C 2 hydrocarbon and CO 2 formations were presented in three equations and the kinetic parameters were also estimated. By using the technique of solid electrolyte potentiometry (SEP) to monitor the chemical potential of absorbed oxygen on Ag, the results indicate that equilibrium is not established between absorbed and gaseous oxygen during methane oxidation on polycrystalline silver. Applied potential can not enhance dramatically the formation rate of either C 2 hydrocarbon or CO 2.