Separation methods and systems for oxidative coupling of methane

A method for generating compounds with two or more carbon atoms (C2+ compounds), comprising:

• (a) directing oxygen (O2) and methane (CH4) into an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reactor having a first section and a second section downstream of said first section, to produce a product stream, which first section reacts said O2 and CH4 in an OCM process to yield ethylene (C2H4), ethane (C2H6), and heat, which second section uses said heat to convert said C2H6 from said first section into C2H4 in a non-OCM process, and which product stream comprises (i) C2+ compounds including C2H4 and C2H6 and (ii) C1 compounds including un-reacted CH4;
• (b) directing said product stream into a first separations unit containing a metal organic framework (MOF) that produces (i) a first stream comprising said C2H4, (ii) a second stream comprising said C2H6, and (iii) a third stream comprising said C1 compounds;
• (c) directing said second stream into said second section;
• (d) directing said third stream into a second separations unit comprising a CO2 separations unit to create a fourth stream comprising said C1 compounds, which CO2 separation unit employs sorbent or solvent separation of CO2;
• and
• (e) directing said fourth stream into said first section.