Facile production of higher hydrocarbons from ethane in a catalytic supersonic nozzle

Abstract

Flowing C2H6, typically at 80 Torr, 1000 Deg and 10 ms contact time, through a supersonic nozzle made of Ni or Mo converts roughly 40% to higher hydrocarbons. In the mass spectra of the products, CnHm, the most prominent peaks contain even nos. of C atoms (n = 4, ..., 12), but there are also substantial peaks with odd C-atom nos. (n = 3, ..., 11). The largest peaks have m ~ n H atoms, but many others also appear. For n = 6 the mass spectrum indicates that C6H6 is probably the sole product, with yield ?15%. Under the same conditions, CH4 does not form higher hydrocarbons.