Stepwise conversion of methane to methanol over Cu-mordenite prepared by supercritical and aqueous ion exchange routes and quantification of active Cu species by H2-TPR

Copper-exchanged mordenite prepared by supercritical ion exchange (SCIE) and aqueous (AIE) were investigated in stepwise conversion of methane to methanol. Increasing the oxygen activation temperature reaction time enhances methanol yield copper-exchanged SCIE (Cu-MORS). The reducibility Cu-MORS was compared with those Cu-MORA using H2-TPR. It demonstrated for first that deconvoluted H2-TPR profile coupled effects Cu loading on data can be used distinguish active sites from inactive ones based their reduction temperature. copper species responsible found reduced below 150 °C H2 both Cu-MORA. From stoichiometry Cu2+ species, average number atoms calculated as 2.07 2.80 Cu-MORA, respectively. Differences structure caused synthesis routes also detected in-situ FTIR upon NO adsorption indicating a higher susceptibility towards autoreduction. results potential TPR methods identify suggested importance site selective order controllably synthesize zeolites.