Obtaining C2 and C3 products from methane using Pd/C as anode in a solid fuel cell-type electrolyte reactor

Abstract

Methane was converted into C2 and C3 products under mild conditions using a single stage solid electrolyte reactor, using a proton exchange membrane fuel cell as a SER-FC and Pd/C as an electrocatalyst prepared by the reduction method of sodium borohydride. This electrocatalyst has a cubic pattern of palladium centered on the face and an average size of nanoparticles close to 6.4 nm, according to the literature. Differential mass spectrometry reveals the chemical profile of species obtained from the oxidation of methane with ionic currents (Ii) at m/z=16, 28, 30, 32, 44, 46 and 60. In many cases, Ii can be assigned to more than one species; therefore, complementary ATR-FTIR experiments were performed. The ATR-FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of C2 and C3 compounds such as ethane, ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetic acid and propane. Considering the low amount of water in the reaction medium, these results may be associated with the use of Pd/C electrocatalysts responsible for the activation of the water molecule.