METHOD FOR CONVERTING METHANE-CONTAINING GASEOUS HYDROCARBON MIXTURES TO LIQUID HYDROCARBONS

摘要

An improved process for the conversion of normally gaseous methane-hydrocarbon mixtures (1), such as natural gas, to a normally liquid hydrocarbon product (10) comprises separating the methane component of the gaseous mixture from the heavier hydrocarbon component, cracking the separated heavier hydrocarbon component (3) at a relatively low temperature and optionally cracking the methane component at a relatively high temperature. The low temperature cracking product and any high temperature cracking product (11) are separated into a light product (31) of principally hydrogen and a heavy product (7) comprising unsaturated hydrocarbons. This heavy product is reacted with methane in the presence of an acidic alkalization catalyst. The resulting product mixture (9) is separated into a light product (61), a portion of which is recycled, and the normally liquid hydrocarbon product (10).