Process for Catalytic Oxidative Conversion of Methane to Ethylene in the Presence of Chlorine Intermediates

A process for producing ethylene comprising:

• (a) continuously feeding a reactant mixture and a chlorine radical precursor for an activation time period to a reactor comprising an oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) catalyst to activate the OCM catalyst and to yield a first product mixture, wherein the chlorine radical precursor is introduced to the reactor in an amount of from about 2 vol. % to about 5 vol. %, based on the total volume of the reactant mixture, wherein the reactant mixture comprises methane and oxygen, wherein the first product mixture comprises ethylene, ethane, and unreacted methane, wherein the OCM catalyst comprises (1) a redox agent in an amount of from about 1 wt. % to about 25 wt. %, based on the total weight of the OCM catalyst, and (2) an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or both, in an amount of equal to or greater than about 3 wt. %, based on the total weight of the OCM catalyst;
• (b) discontinuing the introduction of the chlorine radical precursor to the reactor while continuing to feed the reactant mixture to the reactor for a reaction time period to produce a second product mixture, wherein the second product mixture comprises ethylene, ethane, and unreacted methane;
• (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) as necessary to achieve a target methane conversion and/or a target ethylene selectivity;
• and
• (d) recovering at least a portion of the ethylene from the first product mixture and/or the second product mixture;
• wherein the first product mixture and/or the second product mixture are characterized by an ethylene to ethane molar ratio of equal to or greater than about 8:1.