Direct insertion of methane into C3-C4 paraffins over zeolite catalysts:: a start to the development of new one-step catalytic processes for the gas-to-liquid transformation

The paper demonstrates that utilization of the well-known concept of the ability of the same catalytic centers to catalyze both forward and backward reactions can result in the development of a process of the direct one-step insertion of methane into heavier hydrocarbons. The insertion seems to proceed as a part of linear alkanes dehydrocyclization reactions at rather mild pressure and temperature conditions (at 773-823 K) over Zn- or Ga-promoted zeolite catalysts. The experimental study of the process evidences in its potential practical applicability for the natural gas-to-liquid conversion. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.