US5516967A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Direct conversion of methane to hythane
Assignee: GAS METROPOLITAIN AND Co
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Filing: 1995-01-30
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Granted: 1996-05-14
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Expires: 2015-01-30
Abstract
Abstract The direct conversion of methane to hythane, an alternative fuel for internal combustion engines, is effected by subjecting methane to a controlled oxidation with water vapor at a temperature of about 400 DEG to about 500 DEG C. and a pressure of about 1 to about 5 atmospheres, in the presence of a catalyst comprising palladium or a binary alloy thereof with another metal selected from the group consisting of elements belonging to Group IB, Group IIA, Group VIII and the lanthanide series of the Periodic Table, the catalyst being supported on a porous carrier. The direct conversion of methane to hythane under conditions of low temperature and pressure in accordance with the present invention enables hythane to be produced not only economically and efficiently, but also at or near vehicle fueling sites, thereby eliminating the storage and transportation of dangerously reactive hydrogen for mixing with methane or natural gas.
Inventors
- 👤 Raj N. Pandey
- 👤 Kebir Ratnani
- 👤 Shamsuddlin Ahmed
- 👤 Rupesh N. Pandey
- 👤 John R. Williams
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 21:51
CPC Classifications
C; C01; C01B; C01B3/00; C01B3/50; C01B3/52; B; B01; B01J; B01J23/00; B01J23/38; B01J23/40; B01J23/44; B01J23/70; B01J23/89; C01B3/02; C01B3/32; C01B3/34; C01B3/38; C01B3/40; C01B2203/00; C01B2203/04; C01B2203/0415; C01B2203/0465; C01B2203/0475; C01B2203/0495; C01B2203/10; C01B2203/1041; C01B2203/1047; C01B2203/1052; C01B2203/1064; C01B2203/1076; C01B2203/1082; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P20/00; Y02P20/50; Y02P20/52; Y02P30/00; Y10; Y10S; Y10S585/00; Y10S585/929; Y10S585/943
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A process for the production of a gaseous mixture comprising about 5-20 vol. % hydrogen and about 80-95 vol. % methane, which comprises oxidizing methane with water vapor at a temperature of about 400° to about 500° C. and a pressure of about 1 to about 5 atmospheres, in the presence of a catalyst comprising palladium or a binary alloy thereof with another metal selected from the group consisting of elements belonging to Group IB, Group IIA, Group VIII and the lanthanide series of the Periodic Table, the catalyst being supported on a porous carrier.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A process for the production of a gaseous mixture comprising about 5-20 vol. % hydrogen and about 80-95 vol. % methane, which comprises oxidizing methane with water vapor at a temperature of about 400° to about 500° C. and a pressure of about 1 to about 5 atmospheres, in the presence of a catalyst comprising palladium or a binary alloy thereof with another metal selected from the group consisting of elements belonging to Group IB, Group IIA, Group VIII and the lanthanide series of the Periodic Table, the catalyst being supported on a porous carrier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said oxidation is carried out at atmospheric pressure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said oxidation is carried out at a temperature ranging from about 400° to about 450° C.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said catalyst is selected from the group consisting of palladium, alloys of palladium-nickel, palladium-copper, palladium-magnesium, palladium-lanthanum and palladium-cerium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said carrier is selected from the group consisting of alumina, silica and zirconia.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said catalyst comprises palladium supported on γ-alumina.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said catalyst comprises about 0.5 to about 10% by weight of palladium or of said binary alloy thereof, based on the total weight of the supported catalyst.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said catalyst comprises about 2% by weight of palladium, based on the total weight of the supported catalyst.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
A process as claimed in claim 4, wherein said catalyst comprises an alloy of palladium with another metal selected from the group consisting of nickel, copper, magnesium, lanthanum and cerium, in which palladium is present in an amount of about 2% by weight, based on the total weight of the supported catalyst, and wherein said alloy has a palladium/other metal atomic ratio of about 1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supported catalyst is used in admixture with an inert porous material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as claimed in claim 10, wherein said inert porous material comprises γ-alumina.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein said oxidation is carried out at atmospheric pressure with a CH 4 /H 2 O feed ratio ranging from about 2 to about 5, a dry gas feed flowrate ranging from about 20 to about 100 ml/min., and a mass of supported catalyst ranging from about 0.2 to about 1 g.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as claimed in claim 12, wherein said CH 4 /H 2 O feed ratio is about 3.5.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as claimed in claim 12, wherein said dry gas feed flowrate is about 25 ml/min.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process as claimed in claim 12, wherein said mass of supported catalyst is about 0.2 g.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as claimed in claim 12, wherein said supported catalyst is used in admixture with an inert porous material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process as claimed in claim 16, wherein said inert porous material comprises γ-alumina.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process as claimed in claim 16, wherein said inert porous material is used in an amount of about one to two-fold the mass of supported catalyst.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as claimed in claim 12, wherein said oxidation is carried out at a temperature ranging from about 400° to about 500° C.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
A process as claimed in claim 12, wherein said catalyst comprises palladium supported on γ-alumina.
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) | 1999-05-14 | 1999-11-13 | 2000-05-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-05-14 | 2003-11-13 | 2004-05-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-05-14 | 2007-11-13 | 2008-05-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |