Patent ID: 7501456
Filing Date: 2009-03-10
Classification: C01B,C10G,Y02P

Abstract:
1. A process for converting methane to higher molecular weight hydrocarbons comprising: (A) reforming methane by catalytic reaction with steam at elevated temperature to generate a mixture comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen; (B) subjecting the mixture of comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen to a Fischer-Tropsch reaction to generate one or more hydrocarbons and water and to produce a tail gas; (C) extracting or removing one or more oxygenates that comprise a mixture of at least two oxygenates having up to nine carbon atoms chosen from the group consisting of alcohols, aldehydes, and ketones, from the water; (D) recycling at least a plurality of the oxygenates to step (A) and catalytically combusting the oxygenate, thereby providing heat for step (A); and (E) replacing at least a portion of the oxygenate(s) in step (D) with methane when or after the temperature of the catalytic combustion attains or exceeds the catalytic combustion initiation temperature of methane.