A way to higher hydrocarbons from methane with sizable yield and good selectivity

The C2+ hydrocarbons obtained through hydrogenation of the adspecies formed by preliminary exposure to methane of various supported metal catalysts ca n mostly consist of C5+ species. However, this procedure requires space vel ocities of CH4 during the first step little compatible with industrial prac tice. The present contribution is the first demonstration that static metha ne can be used in this procedure, on condition that an appropriate hydrogen acceptor be mixed with the catalyst. Several hydride forming alloys and se veral catalysts were used successfully. The best results were obtained with an NiZr2 alloy that allowed a methane conversion ranging from 28 to 65%-de pending on the catalyst-while 57-78% of the converted methane was C5+ hydro carbons.