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 plurality of hydrocarbons, comprising:
allowing methyl bromide to contact a zeolite doped with an alkaline-earth metal, at a temperature and pressure sufficient to yield a plurality of hydrocarbons.
2 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the alkaline-earth metal is selected from the group consisting of calcium, magnesium, and mixtures thereof.
3 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the zeolite has an Si:Al ratio of at least 5:1.
4 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the zeolite has an Si:Al ratio of between about 20:1 and about 1500:1.
5 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the zeolite has an Si:Al ratio of between about 80:1 and about 280:1.
6 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the zeolite doped with an alkaline-earth metal has an alkaline earth metal:silicon ratio of at least 4:1.
7 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hydrocarbons includes at least one aromatic hydrocarbon.
8 . A method as recited in claim 7 , wherein the at least one aromatic hydrocarbon comprises at least one hydrocarbon selected from the group consisting of benzene, toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, mesitylene, and ethylmethylbenzene.
9 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hydrocarbons includes at least one branched alkane.
10 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hydrocarbons includes at least one olefin.
11 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hydrocarbons includes at least one alkane, at least one olefin, and at least one aromatic hydrocarbon.
12 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the plurality of hydrocarbons comprises a gasoline grade mixture of hydrocarbons.
13 . A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising allowing any C 1 to C 3 hydrocarbons that are formed to contact a zeolite doped with an alkaline-earth metal to form one or more C 4 or higher hydrocarbons.
14 . A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the methyl bromide is formed by brominating methane.
15 . A method as recited in claim 14 , wherein Br 2 is used to brominate methane.
16 . A method of making a plurality of hydrocarbons, comprising:
allowing methyl bromide to contact a zeolite doped with an alkaline-earth metal, at a temperature and pressure sufficient to yield a plurality of hydrocarbons, at least 50% of which are C 6 or higher hydrocarbons.
17 . A method of making a plurality of hydrocarbons, comprising:
allowing methyl bromide to contact a zeolite doped with an alkaline-earth metal, at a temperature and pressure sufficient to yield a plurality of hydrocarbons, at least 70% of which are C 5 or higher hydrocarbons.
18 . A method of making a plurality of hydrocarbons, comprising:
allowing methyl bromide to contact a zeolite doped with an alkaline-earth metal, at a temperature and pressure sufficient to yield a plurality of hydrocarbons, at least 50% of which are C 6 higher hydrocarbons, and at least 70% of which are C 5 or higher hydrocarbons.
19 . A method as recited in claim 18 , wherein the temperature is 225° C. to 350 ° C., and the pressure is 1 to 5 bar.
20 . A method as recited in claim 18 , wherein the doped zeolite is a ZSM-5-type zeolite doped with calcium to a Ca:Si ratio of at least 4:1.