Patent ID: 7517916
Filing Date: 2009-04-14
Classification: C10G

Abstract:
1. A process to make ethylene and/or propylene from methane comprising: (aa) preparing a gaseous mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen from methane; (bb) performing a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis step using the gaseous mixture obtained in step (aa) to obtain a Fischer-Tropsch product having a 50 wt % recovery point above 250° C.; (cc) evaporating in a step (a) part of the Fischer-Tropsch product in the presence of a dilution gas comprising the unconverted carbon monoxide and hydrogen of step (bb) and carbon dioxide in a gas and a liquid fraction and separating the liquid fraction from the remaining gas fraction, further heating the gas fraction to an elevated temperature of between 730 and 815° C. in a step (b) and subjecting the heated gas fraction to a thermal cracking step (c) at a temperature of between 750 and 860° C. to obtain ethylene and/or propylene; (dd) isolating a mixture of methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen from the cracked gasses obtained in step (cc); and (ee) recycling the mixture of methane, carbon monoxide and hydrogen to step (aa).