Methane conversion process
AssigneeAtlantic Richfield Company
InventorHarry Mazurek
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A process for the oxidative conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons is provided wherein a mixture of methane and gaseous oxidant is contacting at reactive conditions with a reducible metal oxide containing solid contact agent, the improvement comprising periodically discontinuing methane feed to the solid contact agent so that the solid agent is maintained in a more active and highly oxidized state.
Claims3
In a process for the oxidative conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons wherein a feed comprised of a mixture of methane and oxygen is contacted with a reducible metal oxide at reactive conditions effective to form higher hydrocarbons and water, the improvement which comprises maintaining the said reducible metal oxide in a high oxidation state in the process by periodically discontinuing methane feed while maintaining molecular oxygen feed and contacting said reducible metal oxide with said molecular oxygen in the absence of said methane at conditions effective to substantially fully oxidize said reducible metal oxide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.