Methane Activation Process: Simultaneous Optimization of Methane Conversion and Aromatic Yields using Zn-ZSM-11 Zeolite

Abstract

Experiment Design – Response Surface Methodology (RSM) is used to model and to optimize the activation of Methane (C1) using Ethane (C2) as co-reactant into higher hydrocarbons, over Zn-containing zeolite catalyst. The application of this methodology in this work, allows a better understanding of the influence of the different factors; on two responses simultaneously: C1 Conversion and Aromatic Hydrocarbons Yields. Box-Behnken Design was developmentand the Responses Surfaces were defined, finding the best combination in the reaction parameters in order to optimize the process. Applying the statistic methodology, the best operation conditions obtained are: high C1 conversion (48.6 mol% C) and Aromatic Hydrocarbons Yields (47.2 mol%) were achieved working at these conditions, advancing to the results recently reported by us, where only one objective function (C1 conversion) was optimized.