PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND CATALYTIC PROPERTIES OF DOPED MGO CATALYSTS

Magnesium oxide samples doped with lithium carbonate and with different loadings of iron, manganese, zinc or chromium oxides were evaluated for their catalytic activity towards the oxidative coupling of methane to higher hydrocarbons. These catalytic materials have also been characterised using the powder XRD, SEM, BET surface area, microprobe analysis and TPR techniques. The catalytic activity was found to be related to the physico-chemical properties of the catalysts, especially the presence of reducible sites on the surface. The presence of transition metal oxide dopant on MgO also modifies its surface morphology.