Patent US2192394A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4443645A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4443645A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Methane conversion
Assignee: JOHN A SOFANKO
•
Filing: 1983-08-12
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Granted: 1984-04-17
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Expires: 2003-08-12
Abstract
Abstract A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises contacting methane with an oxide of germanium at a temperature of 500° to 800° C. The oxide is reduced by the contact and coproduct water is formed. A reducible oxide of germanium is regenerated by oxidizing the reduced composition with molecular oxygen. The oxide GeO 2 is a particularly effective synthesizing agent.
Inventors
- 👤 C. Andrew Jones
- 👤 John J. Leonard
- 👤 John A. Sofranko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:16
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07C; C07C2/00; C07C2/76; C07C2/82; C07C2/84; C07C2521/00; C07C2521/06; C07C2521/08; C07C2523/00; C07C2523/14; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S585/00; Y10S585/929; Y10S585/943
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
34 words
A method for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon products which comprises contacting a gas comprising methane and a reducible oxide of germanium at a temperature within the range of about 500° to 800° C.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
34 words
A method for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon products which comprises contacting a gas comprising methane and a reducible oxide of germanium at a temperature within the range of about 500° to 800° C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the solid is contacted with a gas comprising methane at a temperature within the range of about 600° to 750° C.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the gas contains about 40 to 100 vol. % methane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the gas contains about 80 to 100 vol. % methane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 4 wherein the gas contains about 90 to 100 vol. % methane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the gas comprising methane is natural gas.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the gas comprising methane is processed natural gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a gas consisting essentially of methane is contacted with the said reducible oxide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the reducible oxide of germanium comprises GeO 2 .
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the oxide of germanium is associated with a support material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the oxide of germanium is associated with a support material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the support material is silica.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the support material is silica.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises: (a) contacting a gas comprising methane with a solid comprising a reducible oxide of germanium at a temperature within the range of about 500° C. to 800° C. to form C 2 + hydrocarbons, coproduct water, and solids comprising a reduced oxide of germanium; (b) recovering C 2 + hydrocarbons; (c) at least periodically contacting the solids comprising a reduced oxide of germanium with an oxygen containing gas to produce a solid comprising a reducible oxide of germanium; and (d) contacting a gas comprising methane with the solids product in step (c) as recited in step (a).
Claim 16
Independent Claim
108 words
A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises: (a) contacting a gas comprising methane with a solid comprising a reducible oxide of germanium at a temperature within the range of about 500° C. to 800° C. to form C 2 + hydrocarbons, coproduct water, and solids comprising a reduced oxide of germanium; (b) recovering C 2 + hydrocarbons; (c) at least periodically contacting the solids comprising a reduced oxide of germanium with an oxygen containing gas to produce a solid comprising a reducible oxide of germanium; and (d) contacting a gas comprising methane with the solids product in step (c) as recited in step (a).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the temperature of step (c) is within the range of about 300° to 1200° C.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the temperature of step (c) is within the range of about 500° to 1000° C.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the reducible oxide of germanium comprises GeO 2 .
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the said solid of step (a) comprises GeO 2 on a silica support.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14 wherein solids of step (a) are maintained in the methane-contacting zone as a fluidized bed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 19 wherein solids of step (c) are maintained in the oxygen-contacting zone as a fluidized bed.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the temperature of step (a) is within the range of about 600° to 750° C.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 21 wherein the temperature of step (c) is 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-04-17 | 1987-10-17 | 1988-04-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-04-17 | 1991-10-17 | 1992-04-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-04-17 | 1995-10-17 | 1996-04-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |