Method for methane conversion
AssigneeMassachusetts Institute of Technology
InventorsWilliam A. Peters, Jack B. Howard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for volumetric reduction of gaseous methane to form magnesium carbide is disclosed. A mixture containing methane and magnesium oxide is reacted at a temperature of 1400.degree. C. or greater to form magnesium tricarbide and by-product gases. The carbide can be hydrolyzed to form hydrocarbons that are useful as chemical feedstocks as fuels for combustion, etc. C.sub.3 hydrocarbons such as those produced by hydrolysis of magnesium tricarbide can be reacted to form benzene using a dehydrocyclization catalyst.
Claims15
A method for carbon densification of methane, said method comprising reacting a mixture comprising methane and a magnesium oxide at a reaction temperature of about 1400.degree. C. or more to form magnesium tricarbide and by-product gas comprising hydrogen.
A method for carbon densification of methane, said method comprising the steps of (A) preheating a mixture comprising MgO entrained in methane;
- (B) reacting the MgO and methane at a reaction temperature of about 1400.degree. C. or more to form reaction products comprising Mg.sub.2 C.sub.3 ;
- and (C) rapidly quenching the reaction products to a temperature of about 700.degree. C. or less.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.