Patent · US Expired

Methane production

US3958957A · kind A · utility

80Cited by
6References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJul 1, 1974
Grant dateMay 25, 1976
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 1, 1994

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P20/584
  • WIPO fieldBasic materials chemistry
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

Methane is produced by contacting a mixture of carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide and hydrogen with a carbon-alkali metal catalyst at a temperature in the range between about 800.degree.F. and about 1500.degree.F. and at a pressure between about atmospheric and about 2000 psig. The catalyst employed may be prepared by heating an intimate mixture of coal, coal char, coke or other carbonaceous solids and an alkali metal salt, hydroxide or similar constituent. Such a catalyst promotes the methanation of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide and the formation of higher hydrocarbons by the Fischer-Tropsch reaction and at the same time is resistant to high temperature sintering and poisoning by sulfur compounds present in the feed gas. The catalyst can be regenerated if necessary by air oxidation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.