Partial oxidation of hydrocarbons

A catalytic partial oxidation process comprising:

• passing a feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon feedstock and oxygen or an oxygen containing mixture through a reactor having at least a first reaction zone and a subsequent second reaction zone;
• and
• producing an effluent stream comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen,
• wherein:
• the first reaction zone contains a first catalyst having a first surface area and a first thermal conductivity, the first catalyst being supported and comprising a first metal of the first catalyst comprising a Co—Ni—Cr—W alloy in which each of Co, Ni, Cr, and W are present in the alloy, wherein the first surface area is less than about 1.0 square meter per gram (m2/g);
• the second reaction zone contains a second catalyst having a second surface area and a second thermal conductivity, the second catalyst comprising a second metal supported on a carrier;
• the first reaction zone comprises a first catalyst carrier comprising one or more metallic substances with a high thermal conductivity;
• the first surface area of the first catalyst is lower than the second surface area of the second catalyst;
• the first thermal conductivity of the first catalyst is at least 0.05 cal/cm2/cm/second/° C. at;
• the first thermal conductivity of the first catalyst is higher than the second thermal conductivity of the second catalyst;
• and
• a CO selectivity is greater than 92.5% and CO2 selectivity is less than 7.2%.

A catalytic partial oxidation process comprising:

• passing a feed stream comprising a hydrocarbon feedstock and oxygen or an oxygen containing mixture through a reactor having at least a first reaction zone and a subsequent second reaction zone;
• and
• producing an effluent stream comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen,
• wherein:
• the first reaction zone contains a first catalyst having a first surface area and a first thermal conductivity, the first catalyst being unsupported and comprising the first catalyst comprising a Co—Ni—Cr—W alloy in which each of Co, Ni, Cr, and W are present in the alloy, wherein the first surface area is less than about 1.0 square meter per gram (m2/g);
• the second reaction zone contains a second catalyst having a second surface area and a second thermal conductivity, the second catalyst comprising a second metal supported on a carrier;
• the first surface area of the first catalyst is lower than the second surface area of the second catalyst;
• the first thermal conductivity of the first catalyst is higher than the second thermal conductivity of the second catalyst;
• and
• a CO selectivity is greater than 92.5% and CO2 selectivity is less than 7.2%.