Patent ID: 7687669

Claim:
A method for producing an alkyl oxygenate, the method comprising: providing a reactor system comprising an injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber comprising a first housing in close coupling to a tubular-flow reactor comprising a second housing, wherein the first housing and the second housing are in slideably-sealed interface; feeding an alkane-containing gas feed stream and an oxygen-containing gas feed stream to said injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber; inducing alkyl free radical formation in said injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber to yield an injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber product stream comprising oxygen, said alkane, and at least a portion of said alkyl free radicals; feeding said injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber product stream to said tubular-flow reactor; and reacting said injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber product stream to produce at least one alkyl oxygenate through partial oxidation of said alkane; wherein said alkane is selected from the group consisting of methane, ethane, propane, and butane.