Process for converting alkanes to carbon filaments

• Main Authors: RANGARAJAN PRIYA, ALLISON JOE D, RAMANI SRIRAM, YORK KENNETH M, AMUNDSON TROY L, WELCH GARY E
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 01.04.2004
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: APPARATUS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF CARBONFILAMENTS; CHEMICAL FEATURES IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ARTIFICIAL FILAMENTS,THREADS, FIBRES, BRISTLES OR RIBBONS; NATURAL OR ARTIFICIAL THREADS OR FIBRES; SPINNING; TEXTILES

The present invention includes a process for producing carbon filaments and synthesis gas from a mixture of alkanes, preferably natural gas, comprising converting a first portion of the alkanes, preferably C2<+> hydrocarbons, directly to carbon filaments and converting a second portion of the alkanes, preferably methane, to syngas. The natural gas may be separated into a first feed stream comprising ethane, propane, and butane and a second feed stream comprising methane. The first feed stream is fed to a carbon filament CF reactor to produce carbon filaments and hydrogen. The second feed stream is fed to a syngas production reactor to produce syngas. Alternatively, the natural gas is fed to at least one carbon filament reactor that is maintained at an effective temperature to convert C2<+> hydrocarbons in the natural gas to carbon filaments and hydrogen, thereby filtering methane from the natural gas.