Conversion of methane
US5012029A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 16, 1989 |
| Grant date | Apr 30, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 16, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S585/943
- WIPO fieldOrganic fine chemistry
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A mixture of organic compounds comprising a major amount of liquid hydrocarbons, mostly aromatic, is formed by the direct partial oxidation of methane in the presence of a ZSM-5 catalyst. The reaction conditions are substantially the same as those required for the direct homogeneous partial oxidation to methanol. However, liquid hydrocarbon formation depends on the presence of a small amount of an impurity such as propane or propylene in the feed; in the absence of such, only methanol is formed. With such modifier present, controls of reaction parameters, e.g., temperature, permits synthesis of both methanol and liquid hydrocarbons in desired proportions. Properly processed natural gas can serve to provide methane and at least part of the reaction modifier.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.