A way to higher hydrocarbons from methane with sizable yield and good selectivity

The C2+ hydrocarbons obtained through hydrogenation of the adspecies formed by preliminary exposure to methane of various supported metal catalysts can mostly consist of C5+ species. However, this procedure requires space velocities of CH4 during the first step little compatible with industrial practice. The present contribution is the first demonstration that static methane can be used in this procedure, on condition that an appropriate hydrogen acceptor be mixed with the catalyst. Several hydride forming alloys and several catalysts were used successfully. The best results were obtained with an NiZr2 alloy that allowed a methane conversion ranging from 28 to 65%-depending on the catalyst-while 57-78% of the converted methane was C5+ hydrocarbons.