Integrated process for synthesizing alcohols and ethers from alkanes
AssigneesGRT, Inc., The Regents of the University of California
InventorsXiao Ping Zhou, Ivan Marc Lorkovic, Galen D. Stucky, Peter C. Ford, Jeffrey H. Sherman, Philip Grosso
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methanol and/or dimethyl ether are manufactured from methane by mixing methane and bromine in a reactor to form methyl bromide and hydrogen bromide. The methyl bromide only or the methyl bromide and the hydrogen bromide are directed into contact with metal oxide to form methanol and/or dimethyl ether and a metal bromide. The metal bromide is oxidized to form original metal oxide catalyst and bromine, both of which are recycled.
Claims32
A method for synthesizing alcohols and/or ethers from alkanes comprising:
- providing a quantity of an alkane selected from the group consisting of methane, ethane, propane, butane, and isobutane;
- providing a quantity of bromine;
- mixing the alkane and the bromine and thereby forming an alkyl bromide and hydrogen bromide;
- reacting the alkyl bromide and the hydrogen bromide with a metal oxide and thereby forming alcohol and/or ether and a metal bromide;
- oxidizing the metal bromide to form the original metal oxide and bromine;
- recycling the metal oxide;
- and
- recycling the bromine.
A method for converting methane to methanol comprising:
- providing a quantity of methane;
- providing a quantity of bromine;
- reacting the methane with the bromine and thereby forming methyl bromide and hydrogen bromide;
- reacting the methyl bromide and the hydrogen bromide catalyst with a metal oxide catalyst and thereby forming methanol and a metal bromide;
- oxidizing the metal bromide to form the original metal oxide and bromine;
- recycling the metal oxide;
- and
- recycling the bromine.
A method for synthesizing ethers from alkanes comprising:
- providing a quantity of an alkane selected from the group consisting of methane and ethane;
- providing a quantity of bromine;
- mixing the alkane and the bromine and thereby forming an alkyl bromide and hydrogen bromide;
- reacting the alkyl bromide with a metal oxide and thereby forming an ether and a metal bromide;
- oxidizing the metal bromide to form the original metal oxide catalyst and bromine;
- recycling the metal oxide catalyst;
- and
- recycling the bromine.
A method for converting methane to dimethyl ether comprising:
- providing a quantity of methane;
- providing a quantity of bromine;
- mixing the methane and the bromine and thereby forming methyl bromide and hydrogen bromide;
- trapping the HBr by metal oxide;
- reacting the methyl bromide with a metal oxide and thereby forming dimethyl ether and a metal bromide;
- oxidizing the metal bromide to form the original metal oxide and bromine;
- recycling the metal oxide;
- and
- recycling the bromine.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.