Oxidation of methane over heterogeneous catalysts
AssigneeThe British Petroleum Company p.l.c.
InventorsJohn H. Brophy, Steven R. Wade
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Abstract
Higher hydrocarbons are produced from methane by reacting the methane at elevated temperature, suitably in the range from 600.degree. to 800.degree. C., with an oxygen-containing gas having a ratio of methane to oxygen of greater than the stoichiometric ratio for complete combustion in the presence as catalyst of a lithium-doped material which under the reaction conditions is a physically base-stable, non-melting, oxygen-stable compound of an element of Groups III to VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements including the rare earth elements.
Claims10
A process for the production of higher hydrocarbons from methane which comprises reacting methane in a temperature range of about 600.degree. to 800.degree. C. with an oxygen-containing gas having a ratio of methane to oxygen of greater than the stoichiometric ratio for complete combustion in the presence of a lithium-doped material as catalyst under reaction conditions sufficient to convert said methane to said higher hydrocarbons, said catalyst consisting essentially of:
- (i) a compound selected from the group consisting of niobia, zirconia, thoria, tantala and boria;
- and
- (ii) a lithium-dopant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.