Conversion of greenhouse gases by dry reforming

A method for simultaneously consuming carbon dioxide and generating one or more multiple-carbon reaction products in a single reaction vessel, the method comprising:

• (a) introducing a flow of a dehumidified gaseous source of carbon dioxide into a higher-temperature portion of a reaction vessel;
• (b) introducing a flow of a dehumidified gaseous source of methane into the higher-temperature portion of the reaction vessel;
• (c) irradiating first catalytic material in the higher-temperature portion of the reaction vessel with microwave energy so as to heat the first catalytic material and drive an endothermic reaction of the carbon dioxide and the methane, catalyzed by the first catalytic material, that produces hydrogen and carbon monoxide;
• (d) cooling a lower-temperature portion of the reaction vessel, thereby establishing a temperature gradient within the reaction vessel wherein the irradiated, higher-temperature portion of the reaction vessel exhibits a higher temperature than the cooled, lower-temperature portion of the reaction vessel, wherein at least a portion of heat required to maintain the temperature gradient is supplied by the microwave energy irradiating the first catalytic material in the higher-temperature portion of the reaction vessel;
• (e) allowing the hydrogen and the carbon monoxide produced to flow from the higher-temperature portion of the reaction vessel into the lower-temperature portion of the reaction vessel, wherein second catalytic material in the lower-temperature portion of the reaction vessel catalyzes exothermic reactions involving the carbon monoxide and the hydrogen to produce the one or more multiple-carbon reaction products;
• (f) allowing a mixture that includes the one or more multiple-carbon reaction products to flow out of the reaction vessel from the lower-temperature portion thereof;
• and
• (g) separating at least a portion of the one or more multiple-carbon reaction products from the mixture that leaves the reaction vessel.