Methane conversion process

Abstract

In an improved method for converting methane to at least one higher hydrocarbon product and coproduct water which comprises contacting a gas comprising methane and at least one added gaseous oxidant with nonacidic solid, the improvement comprising conducting at least a portion of said contacting in the presence of added water.

What is claimed is: . .1. In a method for converting methane to higher hydrocarbons wherein a gas comprising methane and a gaseous oxidant are contacted with a nonacidic solid to produce higher hydrocarbons and coproduct water, the improvement which comprises conducting at least a portion of said contacting in the presence of added water..!.. .2. The method of claim 1 wherein said solid comprises at lease one reducible metal oxide of at least one metal..!.. .3. The method of claim 1 wherein the mole ratio of said added water to said methane in said gas is less than about 10..!.. .4. The method of claim 1 wherein the mole ratio of said added water to said methane in said gas is in the range of about 0.01 to about 6..!.. .5. The method of claim 1 wherein the mole ratio of said added water to said methane in said gas is in the range of about 0.05 to 
     
        about 4.0..!.. .6.  The method of claim 1 wherein the contacting is conducted at a temperature within the range of about 300° to about 1200° C..!.. .7. The method of claim 1 wherein the contacting is conducted at a temperature of about 700° to about 1200° C..!.. .8. The method of claim 1 wherein the contacting is conducted at a temperature of about 800° to about 1000° C..!.. .9. The method of claim 3 wherein the contacting is conducted at a temperature of about 500° to about 1000° C..!.. .10. The method of claim 1 wherein said solid is selected from the group consisting of basic metal oxides..!.. .11. The method of claim 10 wherein said solid is selected from the group consisting of alkaline earth oxides and mixtures thereof..!.. .12. The method of claim 10 wherein said solid comprises magnesia..!.. .13. The method of claim 10 wherein said solid comprises CaO..!.. .14. The method of claim 10 wherein said solid comprises titania..!.. .15. The method of claim 10 wherein said solid comprises SiO 2 ..!.. .16. The method of claim 10 wherein said solid comprises barium..!.. .17. The method of claim 2 wherein said solid is substantially nonreducible under the contacting conditions..!.. .18. The method of claim 11 wherein said solid further comprises at least one alkali metal component..!.. .19. The method of claim 18 wherein the alkali metal component is selected from the group consisting of sodium and compounds thereof..!.. .20. The method of claim 18 wherein the alkali metal component is selected from the group consisting of lithium and compounds thereof..!.. .21. The method of claim 18 wherein the alkali metal component is selected from the group consisting of potassium and compounds thereof..!.. .22. The method of claim 1 wherein the gaseous oxidant comprises molecular oxygen..!.. .23. The method of claim 1 wherein the gaseous oxidant comprises oxides of nitrogen..!.. .24. The method of claim 
     
     
        23 wherein the oxides of nitrogen comprises N 2  O..!.25. In a method for converting methane into higher hydrocarbon products and coproduct water which comprises contacting a gas comprising methane and an oxygen-containing gas with a solid comprising at least one reducible metal oxide of at least one metal, which oxide when contacted with methane at 500° to 1000° C. produces higher hydrocarbons, coproduct water, and reduced metal oxide, the improvement comprising conducting at 
     
     
        least a portion of the contacting in the presence of added water. 26. The method of claim 25 wherein the mole ratio of said added water to said 
     
     
        methane in said gas is less than about 10. 27. The method of claim 25 wherein the mole ratio of said added water to said methane in said gas is 
     
     
        in the range of about 0.01 to about 6. 28. The method of claim 25 wherein the mole ratio of said added water to said methane in said gas is in the 
     
     
        range of about 0.05 to about 4.0. 29. The method of claim 25 wherein the 
     
     
        solid comprises at least one reducible oxide of Mn. 30. The method of claim 29 wherein the solid comprises at least one member of the group consisting of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, and compounds and 
     
     
        mixtures thereof. 31. The method of claim 29 wherein the solid comprises at least one member of the group consisting of boron and compounds 
     
     
        thereof. 32. The method of claim 30 wherein the solid comprises at least one member of the group consisting of boron and compounds thereof.