OPPORTUNITIES FOR TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES IN THE CONVERSION OF NATURAL GAS TO LIQUID FUELS AND CHEMICALS

摘要

Natural gas is a premium fuel because of its high heating value (210.8 kcal/g-mole methane) and clean burning characteristics. However, transportation costs from source to market may prevent its fuel use. Alternative uses of natural gas are conversions to chemicals and liquid fuels. Natural gas is the favored starting material for ammonia and methanol. Natural gas can also be converted to easily transportable liquid fuels. However, conversions to alternative fuels with lower heating values ("156-167 kcal/carbon atom for hydrocarbons; 170.9 kcal/g-mole for methanol) can be rational and economical only under special circumstances. Excellent reviews are available by Rostrup-Nielsen (1), Fox (2), Mills (3), Fierro (4), Lunsford (5), Kuo et al. (6), and by many others on the research and development status of the natural gas conversion technologies. By comparing salient chemical, technological, historical and economic features of the major conversion technologies, this study is an attempt to define the best opportunities for further tech0. nological advances.