Patent US4499322A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4499322A
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Methane conversion
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
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Filing: 1983-08-12
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Granted: 1985-02-12
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Expires: 2003-08-12
Abstract
Abstract An improved method for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon products by contacting a gas comprising methane and an oxidative synthesizing agent at synthesizing conditions, the improvement which comprises contacting methane with an oxidative synthesizing agent containing a promoting amount of alkali metal and/or compounds thereof. Sodium is a particularly effective promoter. Stability of the promoted contact agent is enhanced by the presence of phosphorus.
Inventors
- 👤 C. Andrew Jones
- 👤 John A. Sofranko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 03:56
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07C; C07C2/00; C07C2/76; C07C2/82; C07C2/84; B; B01; B01J; B01J23/00; B01J23/08; B01J23/14; B01J23/16; B01J23/18; B01J23/32; B01J23/34; B01J27/00; B01J27/14; B01J27/16; B01J27/18; C07C2521/00; C07C2521/10; C07C2523/00; C07C2523/02; C07C2523/08; C07C2523/14; C07C2523/16; C07C2523/18; C07C2523/32; C07C2523/34; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S585/00; Y10S585/929; Y10S585/943
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
80 words
In an improved method for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon products which comprises contacting a gas comprising methane at synthesizing conditions with at least one reducible oxide of at least one metal which oxides when contacted with methane at synthesizing conditions are reduced and produce higher hydrocarbon products and water, the improvement which comprises conducting the contacting in the presence of a promoting amount of at least one promoter selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and compounds thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
80 words
In an improved method for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon products which comprises contacting a gas comprising methane at synthesizing conditions with at least one reducible oxide of at least one metal which oxides when contacted with methane at synthesizing conditions are reduced and produce higher hydrocarbon products and water, the improvement which comprises conducting the contacting in the presence of a promoting amount of at least one promoter selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and compounds thereof.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon products which comprises contacting a gas comprising methane at synthesizing conditions with a promoted oxidative synthesizing agent which agent comprises: (a) at least one reducible oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mn, Sn, In, Ge, Pb, Sb, and Bi and (b) a promoting amount of at least one promoter selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and compounds thereof.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon products which comprises contacting a gas comprising methane at synthesizing conditions with a promoted oxidative synthesizing agent which agent comprises: (a) at least one reducible oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mn, Sn, In, Ge, Pb, Sb, and Bi and (b) a promoting amount of at least one promoter selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and compounds thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the gas comprising methane contains from about 40 to about 100 volume percent methane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the gas comprising methane contains from about 80 to about 100 volume percent methane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the gas comprising methane contains from about 90 to about 100 volume percent methane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the gas comprising methane is natural gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the gas comprising methane is processed natural gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the promoter is selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and compounds thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the promoter is selected from the group consisting of sodium, sodium compounds and mixtures thereof.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the promoter is selected from the group consisting of potassium, potassium compounds and mixtures thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the promoter is selected from the group consisting of lithium, lithium compounds and mixtures thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the said reducible oxide and the said promoter are associated with a support material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the support material is silica.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the promoted oxidative synthesizing agent further comprises a stabilizing amount of phosphorus.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
107 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the promoted oxidative synthesizing agent is described by the empirical formula: A.sub.a B.sub.b P.sub.c O.sub.d wherein A is selected from the group consisting of Mn, Sn, In, Ge, Pb, Sb, Bi, and mixtures thereof; B is selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs and mixtures thereof; a, b, c, and d indicate the atomic ratio of each component; and when a is 10, b is within the range of about 1-33, c is within the range of about 0-20, and d has a value which is determined by the valence and proportion of the other elements present.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 15 wherein A is Mn.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 16 wherein B is Na.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 16 wherein B is K.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
9 words
The method of claim 16 wherein B is Li.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said contacting is carried out at a temperature selected within the range of about 500° to 1000° C.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises: (a) contacting a gas comprising methane with a promoted oxidative synthesizing agent comprising a reducible oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mn, Sn, In, Ge, Pb, Sb, and Bi and a promoting amount of at least one promoter selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and compounds thereof at synthesizing conditions in a first zone to form higher hydrocarbons, coproduct water, and solids comprising reduced metal oxide; (b) recovering higher hydrocarbons, (c) at least periodically contacting solids comprising reduced metal oxide with an oxygen-containing gas in a second zone to produce a promoted oxidative synthesizing agent; and (d) returning said promoted oxidative synthesizing agent formed in the second zone to the first zone.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
131 words
A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises: (a) contacting a gas comprising methane with a promoted oxidative synthesizing agent comprising a reducible oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mn, Sn, In, Ge, Pb, Sb, and Bi and a promoting amount of at least one promoter selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and compounds thereof at synthesizing conditions in a first zone to form higher hydrocarbons, coproduct water, and solids comprising reduced metal oxide; (b) recovering higher hydrocarbons, (c) at least periodically contacting solids comprising reduced metal oxide with an oxygen-containing gas in a second zone to produce a promoted oxidative synthesizing agent; and (d) returning said promoted oxidative synthesizing agent formed in the second zone to the first zone.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said reducible oxide is a reducible oxide of Mn.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said promoter is selected from the group consisting of sodium, sodium compounds and mixtures thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said promoter is selected from the group consisting of potassium, potassium compounds and mixtures thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21 wherein said promoter is selected from the group consisting of lithium, lithium compounds and mixtures thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 21 wherein a gas comprising methane is contacted with said promoted oxidative synthesizing agent at a temperature selected within the range of about 500° to 1000° C.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-02-12 | 1988-08-13 | 1989-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-02-12 | 1992-08-13 | 1993-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-02-12 | 1996-08-13 | 1997-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |