US4975164A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Conversion of C2 + hydrocarbons using microwave radiation (OP-3515)
Assignee: ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co
•
Filing: 1989-12-27
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Granted: 1990-12-04
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Expires: 2009-12-27
Abstract
Abstract C 2 + hydrocarbons can be effectively converted to primarily unsaturated hydrocarbons and hydrogen using microwave radiation in the presence of at least one plasma initiator that is capable of initiating an electric discharge in an electromagnetic field.
Inventors
- 👤 Alberto Ravella
- 👤 William J. Murphy
- 👤 Biddanda V. Achia
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 00:32
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01J; B01J19/00; B01J19/08; B01J19/12; B01J19/122; B01J19/126; B01J19/087; B01J19/088; C; C01; C01B; C01B3/00; C01B3/02; C01B3/22; C01B3/24; C07; C07C; C07C4/00; C07C4/02; B01J2219/00; B01J2219/08; B01J2219/0894
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
78 words
A method converting a C 2 + hydrocarbon to acetylene, ethylene, and hydrogen which comprises: (a) introducing the C 2 + hydrocarbon into a reaction zone that contains at least one plasma initiator capable of initiating an electric discharge in an electromagnetic field, and (b) subjecting the C 2 + hydrocarbon and plasma initiator to microwave radiation for a period of time sufficient to convert at least a portion of the 2 hydrocarbon to acetylene, ethylene, and hydrogen.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
78 words
A method converting a C 2 + hydrocarbon to acetylene, ethylene, and hydrogen which comprises: (a) introducing the C 2 + hydrocarbon into a reaction zone that contains at least one plasma initiator capable of initiating an electric discharge in an electromagnetic field, and (b) subjecting the C 2 + hydrocarbon and plasma initiator to microwave radiation for a period of time sufficient to convert at least a portion of the 2 hydrocarbon to acetylene, ethylene, and hydrogen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plasma initiator is a metal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 2 wherein the metal is tungsten, iron, nickel, copper, their alloys, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 3 wherein the metal is tungsten or iron.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plasma initiator is a non-metal other than silica.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 5 wherein the non-metal is calcium aluminate, carbon, iron oxide, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the plasma initiator is a composite of a metal initiator and a non-metal initiator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the weight ratio of carbon in the C 2 + hydrocarbon to hydrogen is less than 6:1 during conversion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a plurality of plasma initiators are present in the reaction zone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the frequency of the microwave radiation is at least 0.3 GHz.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 10 wherein the frequency of the microwave radiation is centered around 0.915, 2.45, or 5.8 GHz.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the C 2 + hydrocarbon comprises ethane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the C 2 + hydrocarbon comprises butane.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for converting a C 2 + hydrocarbon to acetylene, ethylene, and hydrogen which comprises: (a) introducing the C 2 + hydrocarbon into a reaction zone which contains a plurality of plasma initiators capable of initiating an electric discharge in an electromagnetic field, and (b) subjecting the C 2 + hydrocarbon and plasma initiators to microwave radiation having a frequency of at least 0.3 GHz for a period of time sufficient to convert at least a portion of the C 2 + hydrocarbon to acetylene, ethylene, and hydrogen, wherein the weight ratio of carbon in the C 2 + hydrocarbon to hydrogen is less than 6:1 during conversion.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
109 words
A method for converting a C 2 + hydrocarbon to acetylene, ethylene, and hydrogen which comprises: (a) introducing the C 2 + hydrocarbon into a reaction zone which contains a plurality of plasma initiators capable of initiating an electric discharge in an electromagnetic field, and (b) subjecting the C 2 + hydrocarbon and plasma initiators to microwave radiation having a frequency of at least 0.3 GHz for a period of time sufficient to convert at least a portion of the C 2 + hydrocarbon to acetylene, ethylene, and hydrogen, wherein the weight ratio of carbon in the C 2 + hydrocarbon to hydrogen is less than 6:1 during conversion.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the pressure in the reaction zone is greater than atmospheric pressure.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 15 wherein the C 2 + hydrocarbon is converted to primarily ethylene and hydrogen.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 14 wherein at least one plasma initiator is a metal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 17 wherein the metal is tungsten, iron, nickel, copper, their alloys, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
10 words
The method of claim 18 wherein the metal comprises iron.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 14 wherein at least one plasma initiator is a non-metal other than silica.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the non-metal is calcium aluminate, carbon, iron oxide, or mixtures thereof.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 14 wherein at least one plasma initiator is a composite of a metal initiator and a non-metal initiator.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the frequency of the microwave radiation is centered around 0.915, 2.45, or 5.8 GHz.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the microwave radiation is pulsed.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the duration of on-time pulses ranges from 1 millisecond to about 10 seconds and the duration of off-time pulses ranges from about 0.003 to about 60 seconds.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the weight ratio of carbon in the C 2 + hydrocarbon to hydrogen is less than 3:1.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the C 2 + hydrocarbon comprises ethane.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the C 2 + hydrocarbon comprises butane.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14 wherein at least one aromatic compound is formed during the C 2 + hydrocarbon conversion.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for converting a C 2 + hydrocarbon to primarily ethylene and hydrogen which comprises: (a) introducing the C 2 + hydrocarbon into a reaction zone that contains at least one plasma initiator capable of initiating an electric discharge in an electromagnetic field, and (b) subjecting the C 2 + hydrocarbon and plasma initiator to microwave radiation for a period of time sufficient to convert at least a portion of the C 2 + hydrocarbon to primarily ethylene and hydrogen.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
81 words
A method for converting a C 2 + hydrocarbon to primarily ethylene and hydrogen which comprises: (a) introducing the C 2 + hydrocarbon into a reaction zone that contains at least one plasma initiator capable of initiating an electric discharge in an electromagnetic field, and (b) subjecting the C 2 + hydrocarbon and plasma initiator to microwave radiation for a period of time sufficient to convert at least a portion of the C 2 + hydrocarbon to primarily ethylene and hydrogen.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3308050A
Cited
US4898748A
Cited
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