Catalytic partial oxidation of methane
AssigneeExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company
InventorsPartha Nandi, Steven L. Suib
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods are provided for direct conversion of methane and/or ethane to methanol. The methods can include exposing methane to an oxidant, such as O2, in a solvent at conditions that are supercritical for the solvent while having a temperature of 310° C. or less, or about 300° C. or less, or about 290° C. or less. The solvent can correspond to an electron donor solvent that, when in a supercritical state, can complex with O2. By forming a complex with the O2, the supercritical electron donor solvent can facilitate conversion of alkane to methanol at short residence times while reducing or minimizing further oxidation of the methanol to other products.
Claims20
A method for partial oxidation of ethane comprising:
- contacting ethane with O2 in the presence of acetonitrile in a reaction environment, under supercritical conditions for acetonitrile, to form methanol and ethanol, the supercritical conditions comprising a temperature of 310° C. or less,
- wherein a molar amount of ethanol formed is greater than a molar amount of methanol formed.
A method for partial oxidation of alkanes comprising:
- contacting methane, ethane, or a combination thereof with O2 in the presence of acetonitrile and boron nitride in a reaction environment, under supercritical conditions for acetonitrile, to form methanol, the supercritical conditions comprising a temperature of 300° C. or less,
- wherein the boron nitride is supported on graphite, SiO2, or a combination thereof.
A method for partial oxidation of alkanes comprising:
- contacting methane, ethane, or a combination thereof with O2 in the presence of acetonitrile and a nitride initiator in a reaction environment under supercritical conditions for acetonitrile to form methanol, the supercritical conditions comprising a temperature of 300° C. or less,
- wherein a ratio of initial surface area of the boron nitride to a molar amount of O2 in the reaction environment is 4.5 to 7.0 m2 BN (SA)/mmole O2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.