Kinetics of the oxidation of ethane and 1-butene over manganese oxide supported on carbon fibres

Abstract

The oxygen/ethane and oxygen/1-butene reactions have been investigated in a continuous flow system at atmospheric pressure over a manganese oxide/carbon fibre catalyst. The products of reaction were carbon dioxide and water. Apparent activation energies were 108 ± 4 kJ mol−1for the former reaction from 673 to 573 K, and 81 ± 4 kJ mol−1 for the latter from 573 to 473 K. Kinetic data for both reactions were best described by the rate equation:[Formula: see text]The surface mechanism may be complex and it is proposed that reactants interact as adsorbed species each of which is adsorbed on two surface sites. Both oxygen and the hydrocarbon gas appear to be directly involved in further steps. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and low temperature krypton adsorption were used to assess the catalyst structure.