Patent ID: 7589246

Claim:
A process for converting methane to higher hydrocarbons including aromatic hydrocarbons, the process comprising: (a) supplying a feedstock comprising methane and a particulate catalytic material to a reaction zone; (b) operating said reaction zone under reaction conditions effective to convert at least a portion of said methane to said higher hydrocarbon(s) and to deposit carbonaceous material on the particulate catalytic material causing catalyst deactivation; (c) removing at least a portion of said deactivated particulate catalytic material from said reaction zone; (d) heating at least a portion of the removed particulate catalytic material to a temperature of about 700° C. to about 1200° C. by direct and/or indirect contact with combustion gases produced by combustion of a supplemental fuel; (e) regenerating said heated portion of said particulate catalytic material with a hydrogen-containing gas in a regeneration zone under conditions effective to convert at least a portion of the carbonaceous material thereon to methane; and (f) recycling at least a portion of said catalytic particulate material from (e) to said reaction zone.