ENHANCED C2 YIELDS FROM METHANE OXIDATIVE COUPLING BY MEANS OF A SEPARATIVE CHEMICAL REACTOR

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 262; no. 5131; pp. 221 - 223
• Main Authors: TONKOVICH, AL, CARR, RW, ARIS, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: WASHINGTON Amer Assoc Advancement Science 08.10.1993; American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Chemical industry and chemicals; Chemical reactors; Essential oils, perfumes; Exact sciences and technology; Methane; Multidisciplinary Sciences; Natural gas; Production processes; Science & Technology; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Washing products. Cosmetics and toiletries. Perfumes; BED CHROMATOGRAPHIC REACTOR; ETHYLENE; OXIDE CATALYSTS; HIGHER HYDROCARBONS; Methane; Catalytic reaction; Hydrocarbon; Aliphatic compound; Conversion rate; Saturated compound; Samarium III Oxides; Selectivity; Countercurrent flow; Chromatographic reactor; Oxidative coupling; Moving bed reactor; Kinetics; Lanthanide Compounds
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.262.5131.221

Of the processes for converting natural gas into a more useful chemical feedstock, the oxidative coupling of methane to form ethane and ethylene (C2) has perhaps been the most intensively investigated in recent years, but it has proved extremely difficult to obtain C2 yields in excess at 20 to 25%. Methane oxidative coupling was carried out in a separative chemical reactor that simulated a countercurrent chromatographic moving-bed. This reaction gives 65% methane conversion, 80% C2 selectivity, and a C2 yield slightly better than 50% with Sm2O3 catalyst at approximately 1000 K.