CONVERSION OF METHANE INTO C3˜C13 HYDROCARBONS

1 . A process comprising:

(a) reacting methane, oxygen and HBr/H 2 O over a first catalyst in a first reactor to form CH 3 Br and CH 2 Br 2 ;

(b) converting CH 3 Br and CH 2 Br 2 into C 3 ˜C 13 hydrocarbons and HBr over a second catalyst in a second reactor; and

(c) recovering the HBr produced in step (b)

2 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the first catalyst consists of metals or non-metals or compounds thereof.

3 . The process of claim 1 , wherein the second catalyst is metal oxide supported on HZSM-5 or metal halide supported on HZSM-5.

4 . The process of claim 2 , wherein the first catalyst comprises one or more compounds of metals or non-metals selected from the group consisting of Ru, Rh, Pd, Ir, Pt, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, La, Ce, Ti, Zr, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Re, Ag, Au, Cd, Al, Ga, In, Tl, Si, B, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi, Te, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, and Tb.

5 . The process of claim 2 , wherein step (a) is carried out in a fixed-bed reactor at a temperature between about 400° C. and about 800° C., and pressure between about 0.5 atm and about 10.0 atm.

6 . The process of claim 3 , wherein the second catalyst comprises one or more HZSM-5 supported oxide or halide of metals or non-metals selected from the group consisting of Ru, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, La, Ce, Ti, Zr, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Cd, Al, Ga, In, Tl, Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd and Tb.

7 . The process according to the claim 3 , wherein step (b) occurs at a temperature between about 150° C. and about 500° C., and a pressure between about 0.5 atm and about 50 atm.

8 . The process of claim 1 , wherein HBr recovered in step (c) is recycled into the first reactor.