Comparative research of pyrolysis of light alkanes (methane and ethane) on the resistive FeCrAl catalyst

Methane and ethane pyrolysis on the FeCrAl alloy, as a catalyst, in the conditions of its resistive heating is investigated. The cold gas mixture consisting of methane (or ethane) and nitrogen was fed to a spiral heated by an electric current to 900-1300°C. As a result of experiments it is shown that pyrolysis of methane proceeds in two temperature zones with primary formation of ethane and ethylene - in the first and acetylene - in the second. Unlike methane, pyrolysis of ethane proceeds with primary formation of ethylene in the range of 650-950°C. At more high temperatures an exit of by-products of methane and carbon considerably increases. Addition of oxygen both in methane gas mixture and in ethane one, leads to decrease of selectivity of main C2 hydrocarbons due to formation of a by-product CO.