Process for the conversion of light alkanes to aromatic compounds with improved selectivity

A process for the catalytic conversion of gas mixtures of lower hydrocarbons, which contain at least 50% by volume of ethane, to aromatic compounds comprising benzene, toluene and xylenes, said process comprising the steps of contacting a process stream containing lower hydrocarbons with a zeolitic catalyst having an MFI framework and containing 0.1 to 10 percent by weight of a copper compound, wherein the process stream further contains one or more sulfur compounds,

• wherein at least one selectivity of the following is achieved:
• the selectivity of methane does not exceed 5%,
• the selectivity of aromatics with nine or more carbon atoms does not exceed 2%, or
• the selectivity of ethylene is at least 30%.

A process for the catalytic conversion of gas mixtures, said process comprising:

• contacting a process stream with a zeolitic catalyst, the zeolitic catalyst having an MFI framework and comprising 0.1 to 10 percent by weight of a zinc compound;
• and
• converting at least part of the process stream to aromatic compounds comprising benzene, toluene and xylenes,
• wherein the process stream comprises lower hydrocarbons and one or more sulfur compounds, wherein the lower hydrocarbons are at least 50% by volume of ethane,
• wherein the process stream is derived from subjecting raw natural gas to a gas processing step selected from compression, refrigeration, absorption, adsorption, or combinations thereof, thereby obtaining pure methane and said process stream,
• wherein the one or more sulfur compounds are added to the process stream.