Patent ID: 9676695
Date: 2017-06-13
CPC Classifications: C07C,C07D,E21B

Claim:
1. A process for selectively removing propane and ethane from a natural gas stream comprising primarily methane to produce pipeline quality natural gas, the process comprising the steps of: (a) selectively removing propane from the natural gas stream, resulting in a natural gas stream with a substantially reduced concentration of propane, and a propane stream; (b) selectively removing ethane from the propane depleted natural gas stream by reactive separation performed by contacting the natural gas stream with a catalyst at a temperature of between about 250°-400° C., and pressure of between about 1-40 atm., producing an exothermic reaction within the natural gas stream that selectively converts ethane into a product selected from the group consisting of ethylene, acetic acid, and a combination thereof, wherein water and carbon dioxide are produced as by-products of the exothermic reaction, and wherein methane within the natural gas stream is not converted into the product to produce (i) a resulting natural gas stream having a higher concentration of methane, and a substantially reduced concentration of ethane, and (ii) a product stream comprising ethylene, acetic acid, or a combination thereof; and (c) utilizing at least a portion of the product stream in a process selected from the group consisting of refining of ethylene, refining of acetic acid, refining of vinyl acetate, polymerization of ethylene vinyl acetate, and polymerization of polyvinyl acetate, and combinations thereof; and (d) transmitting the natural gas stream.