The Oxidation of Methane

Campbell, John Reid (1929) The Oxidation of Methane. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

PART I. In this section a comprehensive study of the combustion of methane by means of copper oxide has been carried out. The influence of temperature on the amount of methane burned by a constant weight of copper oxide has been investigated, together with a few preliminary experiments on the effect of varying the time of contact of the gas and the oxidising agent (pp. 28-34). Details of the effect of the addition of hydrogen or ethylene to the methane on the temperature of combustion of the latter hydrocarbon are given, together with figures illustrating the oxidation of the olefine by means of copper oxide (pp. 35-45). The activity of lead chromate, both precipitated and fused, in causing the oxidation of methane has been investigated, together with the effect of temperature on the oxidation of carbon monoxide by the fused salt (pp. 46-55). Finally, the oxidation of methane by means of pumice impregnated with cobalt oxide has been investigated (pp. 82-85). In each case complete tables of results, from the point where no combustion takes place to the temperature at which all the hydrocarbon is completely oxidised, are given and the results shown graphically. PART II. In this section a study of the influence of catalysts in promoting the oxidation of methane, in a mixture containing two volumes of methane and one volume of oxygen, has been undertaken. The influence of temperature on the quantities of methane oxidised to the various products of oxidation has been studied and the reaction between the two gases followed out until 25% of the methane supplied has been oxidised to carbon dioxide, this being the maximum value possible under the circumstances. In all eases except the last, complete tables of results from the point at which oxidation commences or, in cases where this is below atmospheric temperature, from atmospheric temperature, are given and the results shown graphically. PART III. The influence of the time of contact in determining the amount of methane oxidised by means of copper oxide has been investigated in this section. Various types of apparatus have been considered and two main methods of procedure finally adopted. The results obtained by these methods have been fully analysed and two subsidiary investigations, suggested from the conclusions drawn from these results, have been carried out. These were investigations into the effects caused by varying the concentration of methane in the gaseous mixture and by varying the amount of surface of copper oxide exposed to the gas.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Keywords: Materials science, Organic chemistry, Chemical engineering
• Date of Award: 1929
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1929-80631
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 30 Jan 2024 14:44
• Last Modified: 30 Jan 2024 14:44
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/80631