Abstract
In the oxidative conversion of natural gas to ethylene/lower olefins over SrO (17.3 wt. %)/La2O3 (17.9 wt. %)/SA5205 catalyst diluted with inert solid particles (inerts/catalyst(w/w) = 2.0) in the presence of limited O2, the exothermic oxidative conversion reactions of natural gas are coupled with the endothermic C2+ hydrocarbon thermal cracking reactions for avoiding hot spot formation and eliminating heat removal problems. Because of this, the process is operated in the most energy-efficient and safe manner. The influence of various process variables (viz. temperature, NG/O2 and steam/NG ratios in feed, and space velocity) on the conversion of carbon and also of the individual hydrocarbons in natural gas, the selectivity for C2−C4 olefins, and also on the net heat of reactions in the process has been thoroughly investigated. By carrying out the process at 800−850 °C in the presence of steam (H2O/NG ≥ 0.2) and using limited O2 in the feed (NG/O2 = 12−18), high selectivity for ethylene (about 60%) or C2−C4 olefins (above 80%) at the carbon conversion (>15%) of practical interest could be achieved at high space velocity (≥34 000 cm3·g-1(catalyst) h-1], requiring no external energy and also without forming coke or tar-like products. The net heat of reactions can be controlled and the process can be made mildly exothermic or even close to thermoneutral by manipulating the O2 concentration in the feed.
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