Methane conversion
AssigneeAtlantic Richfield Company
InventorAnne M. Gaffney
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises contacting methane with a reducible oxide of Tb. The Tb oxide is preferably combined with an amount of alkali and/or alkaline earth metal which is sufficient to improve the selectivity to higher hydrocarbon products. The oxide is reduced by the contact which is carried at about 500.degree. to 1000.degree. C. Reducible oxides of Tb are regenerated by oxidizing the reduced composition with molecular oxygen. The oxide Tb.sub.4 O.sub.7 is particularly effective in the process.
Claims31
A method for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon products which comprises contacting at a temperature within the range of about 500.degree.-1000.degree. C. a gas comprising methane and a solid comprising:
- (a) a reducible oxide of Tb and
- (b) at least one member of the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and compounds thereof;
- provided that when said solid comprises an alkaline earth metal or compound thereof, said contacting is carried out in the substantial absence of catalytically effective Ni, Rh, Pd, Ag, Os, Ir, Pt, Au and compounds thereof.
A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises:
- (a) contacting at a temperature within the range of about 500.degree.-1000.degree. C. a gas comprising methane and a solid comprising:
- (1) a reducible oxide of Tb and (2) at least one member of the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and compounds thereof in an amount sufficient to improve the selectivity to higher hydrocarbons, said contacting producing C.sub.2 +hydrocarbons, coproduct water and solids comprising a reduced Tb oxide, provided that when said solid comprises an alkaline earth metal or compound thereof, said contacting is carried out in the substantial absence of catalytically effective Ni, Rh, Pd, Ag, Os, Ir, Pt, Au and compounds thereof;
- (b) recovering C.sub.2 +hydrocarbons;
- (c) at least periodically contacting the solids comprising reduced Tb oxide with an oxygen-containing gas to produce a solid comprising a reducible Tb oxide;
- and
- (d) contacting a gas comprising methane with the solids produced in step (c) as recited in step (a).
A method for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon products which comprises contacting at a temperature within the range of about 500.degree. to 1000.degree. C. a gas comprising methane and a solid comprising a reducible oxide of Tb and at least one member of the group consisting of alkali metals and compounds thereof.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.