Please cite this article as: N. Pasupulety, Abdurrahim.A. Al-Zahrani, M.A. Daous, H. Driss, L.A. Petrov, Studies on molybdenum carbide supported HZSM-5 (Si/Al= 23, 30, 50 and 80) catalysts for aromatization of methane, Abstract Here in, for the first time we are reporting molybdenum carbide reduction into metallic molybdenum during methane aromatization on HZSM-5 (Si/Al ratio = 23, 30, 50 and 80) at methane space velocity of 1800 mL. g cat -. h -. Benzene yield was influenced by the surface

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... llic molybdenum through the non-aromatic carbon deposits formation via linear hydrocarbons degradation on HZSM-5 with fewer acidity (Si/Al ratio = 30, 50 and 80). Our XPS analysis results demonstrated improved surface metallic molybdenum in spent Mo 2 C/HZSM-5 =80 (0.71 atom. %) and 50 (0.54 atom. %) samples over Mo 2 C/HZSM-5 =30 (0.33 atom. %) and 23 (0.20 atom. %) samples. Furthermore, HR-TEM and FFT analysis images clearly established fine distribution of distorted spherical shaped Mo 2 C particles with 6-14 nm size in spent Mo 2 C/HZSM-5 =23. On the other hand, Mo 2 C particle size was increased upto 22 nm in Mo 2 C/HZSM-5 = 80. The ease reduction of Mo 2 C into metallic molybdenum and aggregation of Mo 2 C particles in spent higher Si to Al ratio (50 and 80) samples was associated with weak interactions between Mo 2 C and the HZSM-5 with fewer acidity. At 700 o C, the order of benzene yield as follows: Mo 2 C/HZSM-5 =80 (2.2%) < Mo 2 C/HZSM-5 =50 (3.25%) < Mo 2 C/HZSM-5 =30 (5.2%) < Mo 2 C/HZSM-5 =23 (8.0%).