Process for the simultaneous conversion of methane and organic oxygenate to C2 to C10 hydrocarbons

A process for the simultaneous conversion of methane and organic oxygenate(s), represented by a general formula:

• CnH2n+1OCmH2m+1
• wherein, C, H and 0 are carbon, hydrogen and oxygen elements, respectively;
• n is an integer having a value between 1 and 4;
• and m is an integer having a value between zero and 4, to C2-C10 hydrocarbons and hydrogen, the process comprises:
• simultaneously converting oxygenates and methane to hydrogen and C2-10 hydrocarbons by:
• contacting a gaseous feed comprising methane and at least one organic oxygenate with a methane to organic oxygenate mole ratio above 0.5, with a bifunctional pentasil zeolite catalyst essentially comprising at least one metallic element selected from the group consisting of Ga, In, Zn, Fe, Mo, Ag, Au, noble metals and rare earth elements, having strong acidic and dehydrogenation sites, such that the ratio of moles of methane converted to moles of organic oxygenate in the feed is at least 0.05, to obtain a product stream;
• ii. subjecting the product stream obtained in step (i) to condensation to condense normally liquid products containing liquid hydrocarbons and water therefrom, and separating the liquid hydrocarbons and water from condensed liquid products, to obtain liquid hydrocarbons and water and a gaseous product stream;
• iii. separating hydrogen from the gaseous product stream obtained in step (ii);
• and
• iv. recycling the gaseous product stream after separation of hydrogen in step (iii) to step (i), with or without the separation of normally gaseous C2+ hydrocarbons.