Hydrocarbon synthesis
A method of synthesizing hydrocarbons from smaller hydrocarbons includes the steps of hydrocarbon halogenation, simultaneous oligomerization and hydrogen halide neutralization, and product recovery, with a metal-oxygen cataloreactant used to facilitate carbon-carbon coupling. Treatment with air or oxygen liberates halogen and regenerates the cataloreactant.
1 . A method of making a hydrocarbon having a carbon number C n , where n≧2, comprising:
forming a halogenated hydrocarbon by allowing a reactant hydrocarbon having a carbon number C m , where m<n, to react with a halogenating agent;
forming a product hydrocarbon having a carbon number C n , where n≧2, by allowing the halogenated hydrocarbon to contact a metal-oxygen cataloreactant;
recovering the product hydrocarbon; and
regenerating the cataloreactant.
2 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the reactant hydrocarbon comprises methane.
3 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the metal-oxygen cataloreactant is selected from the group consisting of zeolites, doped zeolites, metal oxides, mixed metal oxides, metal oxide-impregnated zeolites, and mixtures thereof.
4 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the cataloreactant is regenerated with air or oxygen.
5 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein synthesis of the product hydrocarbon is carried out in a zone reactor.
6 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the halogenating agent comprises molecular halogen.
7 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the molecular halogen comprises bromine.
8 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the halogenating agent comprises an alkyl halide.
9 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the halogenating agent comprises a solid halide.
10 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the halogenating agent comprises a hydrogen halide.
11 . A method of making a hydrocarbon having a carbon number C n , where n≧2, comprising:
forming a brominated hydrocarbon by allowing a reactant hydrocarbon having a carbon number C m , where m<n, to react with a brominating agent;
forming a product hydrocarbon having a carbon number C n , where n≧2, by allowing the brominated hydrocarbon to contact a metal-oxygen cataloreactant;
recovering the product hydrocarbon; and
regenerating the cataloreactant.
12 . A method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the reactant hydrocarbon comprises methane.
13 . A method as recited in claim 11 , wherein the metal-oxygen cataloreactant is selected from the group consisting of zeolites, doped zeolites, metal oxides, mixed metal oxides, metal oxide-impregnated zeolites, and mixtures thereof.
14 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the cataloreactant is regenerated with air or oxygen.
15 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein synthesis of the product hydrocarbon is carried out in a zone reactor.
16 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the halogenating agent is selected from the group consisting of bromine, alkyl bromides, solid bromides, and hydrogen bromide.
17 . A method of making a hydrocarbon having a carbon number C n , where n≧2, comprising:
(i) forming an alkyl halide by allowing a reactant alkane having a carbon number C m , where m<n, to react with molecular halogen;
(ii) forming a product hydrocarbon having a carbon number C n , where n≧2, by allowing the alkyl halide to contact a metal-oxygen cataloreactant;
(iii) recovering the product hydrocarbon; and
(iv) regenerating the cataloreactant with air or oxygen.
18 . A method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the reactant hydrocarbon comprises methane.
19 . A method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the molecular halogen comprises bromine.
20 . A method as recited in claim 17 , wherein step (i) occurs at an alkane-to-halogen ratio of from 1:10 to 1:100 by volume.
21 . A method as recited in claim 19 , wherein step (i) occurs at a temperature of from 20 to 900° C. and a pressure of from 0.1 to 200 atm.
22 . A method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the metal-oxygen cataloreactant is selected from the group consisting of zeolites, doped zeolites, metal oxides, mixed metal oxides, metal oxide-impregnated zeolites, and mixtures thereof.
23 . A method as recited in claim 17 , wherein the cataloreactant is regenerated with air or oxygen.
24 . A method as recited in claim 17 , wherein steps (i)-(iv) take place in a zone reactor.
25 . A method of making a hydrocarbon having a carbon number C n , where n≧2, comprising:
(i) forming an alkyl halide by allowing methane to react with molecular bromine, at a temperature of from 20 to 900° C., a pressure of from 0.1 to 200 atm, and a methane-to-bromine ratio of from 1:10 to 1:100 by volume;
(ii) forming a product hydrocarbon having a carbon number C n , where n≧2, by allowing the alkyl bromide to contact a doped zeolite;
(iii) recovering the product hydrocarbon; and
(iv) regenerating the doped zeolite with air or oxygen; wherein steps (i)-(iv) occur in a zone reactor.