US4547611A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methane conversion
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
•
Filing: 1984-04-16
•
Granted: 1985-10-15
•
Expires: 2004-04-16
Abstract
Abstract An improved method for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon products by contacting a gas comprising methane and an oxidative synthesizing agent at synthesizing conditions, the improvement which comprises contacting methane with a solid comprising a promoting amount of alkali metal and/or compounds thereof, said solid being associated with a support selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth metals and compounds thereof. Magnesia is a particularly preferred support.
Inventors
- 👤 C. Andrew Jones
- 👤 John A. Sofranko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 04:22
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07C; C07C2/00; C07C2/76; C07C2/82; C07C2/84; B; B01; B01J; B01J23/00; B01J23/08; B01J23/14; B01J23/16; B01J23/18; B01J23/32; B01J23/34; B01J27/00; B01J27/14; B01J27/16; B01J27/18; C07C2521/00; C07C2521/10; C07C2523/00; C07C2523/02; 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: 27
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
In an improved method for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon products which comprises contacting a gas comprising methane with a solid comprising at least one reducible oxide of at least one metal which oxide when contacted with methane at a temperature within the range of about 500° to 1000° C. is reduced and produces higher hydrocarbon products and water, the improvement which comprises conducting the contacting with a solid which further comprises: (a) at least one promoter selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and compounds thereof and (b) a support comprising at least one member of the group consisting of alkaline earth metals and compounds thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
In an improved method for converting methane to higher hydrocarbon products which comprises contacting a gas comprising methane with a solid comprising at least one reducible oxide of at least one metal which oxide when contacted with methane at a temperature within the range of about 500° to 1000° C. is reduced and produces higher hydrocarbon products and water, the improvement which comprises conducting the contacting with a solid which further comprises: (a) at least one promoter selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and compounds thereof and (b) a support comprising at least one member of the group consisting of alkaline earth metals and compounds thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 wherein component (a) comprises at least one reducible oxide of at least one metal selected form the group consisting of Mn, Sn, In, Ge, Pb, Sb and Bi.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said promoter is selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs and compounds thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the support is selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba and compounds thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the gas comprising methane contains from about 40 to about 100 volume percent methane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the gas comprising methane contains from about 80 to about 100 volume percent methane.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the gas comprising methane contains from about 90 to about 100 volume percent methane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the gas comprising methane is derived from natural gas.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the gas comprising methane is derived from processed natural gas.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said support comprises magnesia.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the promoter is selected from the group consisting of sodium, sodium compounds and mixtures thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the promoter is selected from the group consisting of potassium, potassium compounds and mixtures thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the promoter is selected from the group consisting of lithium, lithium compounds and mixtures thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 11 wherein component (a) comprises a reducible oxide of manganese.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 12 wherein component (a) comprises a reducible oxide of manganese.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 13 wherein component (a) comprises a reducible oxide of manganese.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the solid further comprises a stabilizing amount of phosphorus.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises: (a) contacting a gas comprising methane with a solid comprising: (1) at least one reducible oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mn, Sn, In, Ge, Pb, Sb, and Bi, (2) at least one promoter selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and compounds thereof, and (3) a support comprising at least one member of the group consisting of alkaline earth metals and compounds thereof, at a temperature selected within the range of about 500° to 1000° C. in a first zone to form higher hydrocarbons, co-product water, and solids comprising reduced metal oxide; (b) recovering higher hydrocarbons, (c) at least periodically contacting solids comprising reduced metal oxide with an oxygen-containing gas in a second zone to produce a solid comprising a reducible metal oxide; and (d) returning said solid comprising a reducible metal oxide from the second zone to the first zone.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
160 words
A method for synthesizing hydrocarbons from a methane source which comprises: (a) contacting a gas comprising methane with a solid comprising: (1) at least one reducible oxide of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Mn, Sn, In, Ge, Pb, Sb, and Bi, (2) at least one promoter selected from the group consisting of alkali metals and compounds thereof, and (3) a support comprising at least one member of the group consisting of alkaline earth metals and compounds thereof, at a temperature selected within the range of about 500° to 1000° C. in a first zone to form higher hydrocarbons, co-product water, and solids comprising reduced metal oxide; (b) recovering higher hydrocarbons, (c) at least periodically contacting solids comprising reduced metal oxide with an oxygen-containing gas in a second zone to produce a solid comprising a reducible metal oxide; and (d) returning said solid comprising a reducible metal oxide from the second zone to the first zone.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 18 wherein said support comprises magnesia.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the promoter is selected from the group consisting of sodium, sodium compounds and mixtures thereof.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the promoter is selected from the group consisting of potassium, potassium compounds and mixtures thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 19 wherein the promoter is selected from the group consisting of lithium, lithium compounds and mixtures thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 20 wherein component (a) comprises a reducible oxide of manganese.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 21 wherein component (a) comprises a reducible oxide of manganese.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 22 wherein component (a) comprises a reducible oxide of manganese.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-10-14 | 1989-04-15 | 1989-10-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-10-14 | 1993-04-15 | 1993-10-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-10-14 | 1997-04-15 | 1997-10-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |