Patent ID: 7951985

Claim:
A process for converting methane to higher hydrocarbons including aromatic hydrocarbons, the process comprising contacting a feed containing methane with a dehydrocyclization catalyst in a reaction zone under conditions effective to convert said methane to aromatic hydrocarbons, wherein said reaction zone is contained within a reactor and wherein the reactor or an internal component of the reactor has at least one surface that is chemically exposed to said feed and is formed from a refractory material wherein said at least one surface is formed from a refractory alloy that exhibits a carbon uptake (mass of carbon absorbed per unit of exposed metal surface area) of less than 25 g/m 2 when exposed to mixture of 50 vol% methane and 50 vol% H 2 at 900° C. for 168 hours, said at least one surface further characterized by having a surface carbide layer formed thereon either (i) during the dehydrocyclization reaction with a methane feed, or (ii) by pre-carburizing said surface by exposing said surface to a carbon-containing atmosphere.