FUEL 19 |
| Methane is the most destructive greenhouse gas. The gas is also the major constituent of natural gas, the current world reserves of which are still underutilized due to high transportation costs. Thus, considerable interest is presently shown in the conversion of methane to transportable liquid fuels and chemicals of importance to petrochemical industry. The catalytic methylation of aromatics is one possible new route for converting methane to more valuable higher hydrocarbons. This paper provides a general overview of the recent work that we and other researchers have done on the utilization of methane for catalytic methylation of aromatic compounds and for direct coal liquefaction for the production of liquid hydrocarbons. In particular, the paper presents a detailed description of more recent substantial experimental evidence that we have provided for the requirement of oxygen as a stoichiometry reactant for benzene methylation with methane over moderately acidic zeolite catalysts. The reaction, which we have termed “oxidative methylation”, was thus postulated to involve a two-step mechanism involving intermediate methanol formation by methane partial oxidation followed by benzene methylation with methanol in the second step. However, strongly acidic zeolites can cause cracking of benzene to yield methylated products in the absence of oxygen. |
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Green Chemistry for Fuel Synthesis and Processing
8:45 AM-12:10 PM, Sunday, 10 September 2006 Palace -- California Parlor, Oral
Sci-Mix
Division of Fuel Chemistry |