Promotional Effects of In on Non-Oxidative Methane Transformation Over Mo-ZSM-5

We present a new class of catalysts, InMo-ZSM-5, which can be prepared by indium impregnation of Mo-ZSM-5. The incorporation of indium dramatically decreases coke formation during methane dehydroaromatization. The benzene and C2 hydrocarbons selectivity among total hydrocarbons over InMo-ZSM-5 remains comparable to that of Mo-ZSM-5 despite reduced methane conversion due to decreased coke formation. We found 1 wt% indium to be optimal loading for reducing coke selectivity to half that of Mo-ZSM-5. Characterization methods were not helpful in discerning the interaction of In with Mo but experiments with bimetallic 1In2Mo-ZSM-5 and mechanical mixture 1In+2Mo-ZSM-5 suggest that In and Mo need to be in close proximity to suppress coke formation. This is supported by temperature programmed reduction experiments which show that In incorporation leads to lower Mo reduction temperature in In2Mo-ZMS-5.