Prospects for the direct catalytic conversion of methane into useful chemical products

Abstract

The literature data on the direct catalytic conversion of methane into useful chemical products (Н2, С2+ hydrocarbons, methanol, formaldehyde, and higher oxygenates) were analyzed. Processes based on these reactions have not yet been commercialized. For each reaction, the catalytic systems were revealed on which the characteristics (primarily, the yield of the desired product) are maximum, and the degree of their approximation to the level at which commercialization is possible was determined. Currently, the most suitable processes for pilot and industrial production may be the syntheses of С2+ and alkylaromatic hydrocarbons by oxidative condensation (dimerization) of methane and by the reaction of methane with С3–С6 alkanes, respectively. The problem of fast deactivation of catalysts in the synthesis of hydrocarbons of the gasoline fraction by methylation of olefins can be solved due to significant progress in the development of new modifications of zeolites and aluminosilicates. The main limitations on the implementation of methane pyrolysis into carbon and H2 are the insufficient demand for the types of carbon materials produced and low strength characteristics of the available catalysts in the case of the process performed in the moving bed. For some products (methanol, formaldehyde), the yields are too low for commercialization, while for others (higher oxygenates) only the possibility of their production was shown.