Method for reforming organics into shorter-chain unsaturated organic compounds
AssigneeQuantum Catalytics, L.L.C.
InventorsChristopher J. Nagel, Thomas P. Griffin, Thomas A. Kinney, Kevin A. Sparks
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Abstract
A method is disclosed for reforming organics into shorter-chain unsaturated organic compounds. A molten metal bath is provided which can cause homolytic cleavage of an organic component of an organic-containing feed. The feed is directed into the molten metal bath at a rate which causes partial homolytic cleavage of an organic component of the feed. Conditions are established and maintained in the reactor to cause partial homolytic cleavage of the organic component to produce unsaturated organic compounds, as products of the homolytic cleavage, which are discharged from the molten metal bath.
Claims17
A method for reforming hydrocarbons into shorter-chain unsaturated organic compounds, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a molten metal bath, said molten metal bath consisting essentially of an elemental metal which can cause cleavage of at least one carbon-carbon bond of a hydrocarbon component of a hydrocarbon-containing feed;
- b) directing said feed into the molten metal bath at a rate which causes the concentration of carbon in the molten metal bath to be lower than the saturation limit for carbon of said bath at the operating conditions of said molten metal bath, whereby the hydrocarbon component of the feed can exhibit cleavage of at least one carbon-carbon bond of the hydrocarbon component of said feed;
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- c) establishing and maintaining conditions in said molten metal bath to cause cleavage of at least one carbon-carbon bond of the hydrocarbon component to produce unsaturated organic compounds, as products of said cleavage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.