The Mechanism Of The Oxidative Coupling Of Methane - Evidence That Ethylene Is A Primary Product

The oxidative coupling of methane was studied over a MgO supported Bi-P-K oxide catalyst. When CD 4 was substituted for CH 4 , the reaction exhibited a kinetic isotope effect as expected, but the D-distribution in ethylene could not be explained by assuming the sole pathway to ethylene was via ethane. The results suggest that ethylene can be produced as a primary product as well as a secondary product.