Process for the direct production of methanol from methane

Abstract

A process for the production of methanol from methane has been developed. The process involves reacting methane with an oxidant such as oxygen or a peroxide in the presence of a catalyst and a solvent in a reaction zone to produce an effluent stream comprising a methanol product. The effluent stream is next separated into a gaseous stream comprising unreacted methane and carbon dioxide and a liquid stream comprising the methanol product and solvent. Next the gaseous stream is further separated to provide a methane stream which is recycled to the reaction zone. Finally, a methanol stream is isolated and a solvent stream is recycled to the reaction zone.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application claims priority from Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 753,205 filed Dec. 22, 2005, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The invention relates to a process for converting methane to methanol. The process involves either co-feeding or alternately feeding methane and an oxidant to a reactor containing a catalyst at oxidation conditions to convert the methane to methanol. The effluent from this oxidation reactor is separated into a gaseous stream comprising unreacted methane and a bottom stream comprising methanol or a methanol adduct. The gaseous stream is further separated to provide a methane stream which is recycled to the reactor, while the bottom stream is separated into a methanol stream and a solvent stream which is also recycled to the reactor.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Today, both chemical and energy industries rely on petroleum as the princip...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Methane is underutilized as a chemical feedstock, despite being the primary constituent of natural gas, an abundant carbon resource.

Factors limiting its use include the remote locations of known reserves, its relatively high transportation costs and its thermodynamic and kinetic stability.

The above two step process for the production of methanol is expensive and energy intensive with corresponding environmental impacts.

Selective oxidation of methane has been studied for over 30 years by individual, academic and government researchers with no commercial success.

The key challenges to a commercial direct methane oxidation process are the inertness of methane relative to intermediates and oxygenate products and designing a catalytic process for direct gas phase reaction with high conversion and selectivity.

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