Direct aromatization of natural gas over H-gallosilicate (MFI), H-galloaluminosilicate (MFI) and Ga/H-ZSM-5 zeolites

Direct Conversion of the C2+ hydrocarbons from natural gas to aromatics over H-Gallosilicate (MFI), H-Galloaluminosilicate (MFI) and Ga/H-ZSM-5 zeolites has been investigated at different temperatures (500-600 degrees C) and space velocities (500-6660 cm(3) g(-1) h(-1)). The zeolites are compared for their activity/selectivity and distribution of aromatics formed in the natural gas-to-aromatics conversion at different process conditions. The performance shown by the zeolites is in the following order: H-Galloaluminosilicate (MFI) much greater than H-Gallosilcate (MFI) > Ga/H-ZSM-5. Natural gas, containing 27.3 wt% C2+ hydrocarbons, can be converted to aromatics with very high selectivity (approximate to 90%) at a high conversion (70%) of C2+ hydrocarbons over H-Galloaluminosilicate (MFI) zeolite at 600 degrees C and space velocity of 3000 cm(3) g(-1) h(-1). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.