US4665260A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Methane conversion
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
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Filing: 1985-12-19
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Granted: 1987-05-12
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Expires: 2005-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A continuous method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises contacting methane with moving beds of particles comprising an oxidative synthesizing agent under synthesis conditions wherein particles recirculate between two physically separate zones: a methane contact zone and an oxygen contact zone.
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 22:27
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07C; 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: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
In a 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 under synthesizing conditions 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, the improvement which comprises: (a) continuously introducing and contacting the gas comprising methane and particles comprising said reducible metal oxides and further comprising at least one promoter selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and compounds thereof under synthesizing conditions in a first contact zone to form C 2 + hydrocarbons, coproduct water, and particles comprising a reduced metal oxide, said particles in the first zone being maintained as a moving bed of solids; (b) continuously removing particles comprising a reduced metal oxide from the first zone and contacting the particles with an oxygen-containing gas in a second zone to produce particles comprising a reducible metal oxide; and (c) returning particles produced in the second zone to the first zone.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
In a 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 under synthesizing conditions 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, the improvement which comprises: (a) continuously introducing and contacting the gas comprising methane and particles comprising said reducible metal oxides and further comprising at least one promoter selected from the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and compounds thereof under synthesizing conditions in a first contact zone to form C 2 + hydrocarbons, coproduct water, and particles comprising a reduced metal oxide, said particles in the first zone being maintained as a moving bed of solids; (b) continuously removing particles comprising a reduced metal oxide from the first zone and contacting the particles with an oxygen-containing gas in a second zone to produce particles comprising a reducible metal oxide; and (c) returning particles produced in the second zone to the first zone.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein particles in the second zone are maintained as a moving bed of solids.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the particles introduced to the first zone comprise reducible oxides of Mn.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the average residence time of particles in the first zone is within the range of about 0.04 to 30 minutes.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the average residence time of particles in the first zone is within the range of about 0.2 to 4 minutes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the residence time of methane feedstock in the first zone is within the range of about 0.1 to 500 seconds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the residence time of methane feedstock in the first zone is within the range of about 0.1 to 100 seconds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the first zone is selected within the range of about 500° to 1000° C.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the gas comprising methane contains about 40 to 100 vol. % methane.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the gas comprising methane contains about 80 to 100 vol % methane.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the gas comprising methane contains about 90 to 100 vol % methane.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a gas comprising methane is natural gas.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a gas comprising methane is processed natural gas.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a gas consisting essentially of methane is contacted with the said particles in the first zone.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the said reducible oxide is associated with a support material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the particles introduced to the first zone comprise reducible oxides of Sn.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the particles introduced to the first zone comprise reducible oxides of In.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the particles introduced to the first zone comprise reducible oxides of Ge.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the particles introduced to the first contact zone comprise reducible oxides of Pb.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the particles introduced to the first zone comprise reducible oxides of Sb.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the particles introduced to the first contact zone comprise reducible oxides of Bi.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
177 words
In a 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, said contacting being carried out in the presence of at least one promoter selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and compounds thereof, the improvement which comprises: (a) continuously introducing and contacting the gas comprising methane and particles comprising said promoted reducible metal oxides under synthesizing conditions in a first contact zone to form C 2 + hydrocarbons, coproduct water, and particles comprising a reduced metal oxide, said particles in the first zone being maintained as a moving bed of solids; (b) continuously removing particles comprising a reduced metal oxide from the first zone and contacting the particles with an oxygen-containing gas in a second zone to produce particles comprising a reducible metal oxide; and (c) returning particles produced in the second zone to the first zone.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
177 words
In a 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, said contacting being carried out in the presence of at least one promoter selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and compounds thereof, the improvement which comprises: (a) continuously introducing and contacting the gas comprising methane and particles comprising said promoted reducible metal oxides under synthesizing conditions in a first contact zone to form C 2 + hydrocarbons, coproduct water, and particles comprising a reduced metal oxide, said particles in the first zone being maintained as a moving bed of solids; (b) continuously removing particles comprising a reduced metal oxide from the first zone and contacting the particles with an oxygen-containing gas in a second zone to produce particles comprising a reducible metal oxide; and (c) returning particles produced in the second zone to the first zone.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the particles introduced to the first contact zone comprise reducible oxides of Mn.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 22 wherein the promoter is selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and compounds thereof.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the promoter is selected from the group consisting of sodium, sodium compounds, and mixtures thereof.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the promoter is selected from the group consisting of potassium, potassium compounds and mixtures thereof.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the promoter is selected from the group consisting of lithium, lithium compounds and mixtures thereof.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the said promoted reducible metal oxide is associated with a support material.
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