US4567307A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Two-step methane conversion process
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
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Filing: 1984-04-16
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Granted: 1986-01-28
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Expires: 2004-04-16
Abstract
Abstract A method of synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which includes the steps of contacting a methane with an oxide of a metal which oxide when contacted with methane at between about 500° and 1000° C. is reduced and produces higher hydrocarbon products and water, recovering ethylene from the effluent of the contacting and oligomerizing the ethylene to produce higher hydrocarbon products.
Inventors
- 👤 C. Andrew Jones
- 👤 John J. Leonard
- 👤 John A. Sofranko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 04:45
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07C; C07C11/00; C07C11/02; C07C2/00; C07C2/76; C07C2/82; C07C2/84; C07C2521/00; C07C2521/06; C07C2521/08; C07C2523/00; 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: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A process for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon products which comprises: (a) contacting methane with a first agent at conditions effective to produce higher hydrocarbon products and water, said first agent comprising at least one reducible oxide of at least one metal which oxide when contacted with methane at a temperature in the range of about 500° C. to about 1000° C. is reduced and produces higher hydrocarbon products and water; and (b) oligomerizing at least a portion of said higher hydrocarbon product to still higher hydrocarbon products in the presence of an effective amount of a second agent capable of promoting said oligomerization, provided that the composition of said first agent is different from the composition of said second agent.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A process for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon products which comprises: (a) contacting methane with a first agent at conditions effective to produce higher hydrocarbon products and water, said first agent comprising at least one reducible oxide of at least one metal which oxide when contacted with methane at a temperature in the range of about 500° C. to about 1000° C. is reduced and produces higher hydrocarbon products and water; and (b) oligomerizing at least a portion of said higher hydrocarbon product to still higher hydrocarbon products in the presence of an effective amount of a second agent capable of promoting said oligomerization, provided that the composition of said first agent is different from the composition of said second agent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
100 words
A process for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon products which comprises: (a) contacting at a temperature selected within the range of about 500° to 1000° C. a gas comprising methane and at least one reducible oxide of at least one metal which oxides when contacted with methane at said temperature are reduced and produce higher hydrocarbon products and water, said contacting being carried out in the substantial absence of catalytically effective Ni, Rh, Pd, Ag, Os, Ir, Pt, Au and compounds thereof, and said contacting producing an effluent comprising ethylene and (b) oligomerizing said ethylene to produce higher hydrocarbon products.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
100 words
A process for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon products which comprises: (a) contacting at a temperature selected within the range of about 500° to 1000° C. a gas comprising methane and at least one reducible oxide of at least one metal which oxides when contacted with methane at said temperature are reduced and produce higher hydrocarbon products and water, said contacting being carried out in the substantial absence of catalytically effective Ni, Rh, Pd, Ag, Os, Ir, Pt, Au and compounds thereof, and said contacting producing an effluent comprising ethylene and (b) oligomerizing said ethylene to produce higher hydrocarbon products.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the gas comprising methane contains about 40 to 100 vol. % methane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the gas comprising methane contains about 80 to 100 vol. % methane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the gas comprising methane contains about 90 to 100 vol. % methane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the gas comprising methane is derived from natural gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the gas comprising methane is derived from processed natural gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 2 wherein a gas consisting essentially of methane is contacted with the said reducible oxide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said reducible metal oxide is associated with a support material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said reducible metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of oxides of Mn, Sn, In, Ge, Sb, Pb, Bi and mixtures thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said reducible metal oxide is an oxide of manganese.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 2 wherein said ethylene oligomerization is catalyzed by a heterogeneous acid catalyst.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said catalyst is a siliceous, crystalline molecular sieve.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said molecular sieve is a ZSM-type zeolite.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said molecular sieve is a borosilicate.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4451685A
Cited
US4450311A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-01-27 | 1989-07-29 | 1990-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-01-27 | 1993-07-29 | 1994-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-01-27 | 1997-07-29 | 1998-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |