Studies on the reaction and catalyst deactivation mechanisms in the direct aromatization of methane

Methane direct aromatization is a non-oxidative route for converting natural gas to value-added aromatic compounds, which can have monetary benefits and also help mitigate anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions caused by flaring. The shortcoming with this reaction is associated with low methane conversion, poor methane activation, and rapid catalyst deactivation. In this thesis, studies were conducted in a systematic way in an effort to identify the contributing roles of catalytic components in methane dimerization, aromatization, and coke formation, and also how the active components behave during the course of reaction upon treatment with nitrogen, methane, hydrogen, reaction products, coke, and oxygen.