229
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
K. K. Pant et al. (eds.), Catalysis for Clean Energy and Environmental
Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65021-6_7
Thermocatalytic Conversion of Natural
Gas to Petrochemical Feedstocks Via Nonoxidative Methods: Theoretical
and Experimental Approaches
Sourabh Mishra, Tuhin Suvra Khan, M. Ali Haider, and K. K. Pant
Abstract Requirement of efficient technologies to convert natural gas (methane)
into value-added products such as ethylene, aromatics (BTX), methanol and DME
is prompted due to recent discovery of large reserves of shale and natural gas. To
date, different direct and indirect processes have been explored involving all oxidative/non-oxidative routes. Direct conversion of methane into liquid aromatic hydrocarbons under oxygen-free environment (non-oxidative routes) is one of the
promising approaches for natural gas upgradation. Direct methane to aromatic conversion which is also known as methane dehydroaromatization (MDA) reaction is
performed at a temperature above 600 °C and atmospheric pressure producing benzene as major product and hydrogen as by-product. Lower thermodynamic equilibrium conversion and fast catalyst deactivation are the major challenges with the
reaction which restricts its commercialization. Mo/HZSM-5 and Mo/HMCM-22
are the well-known catalysts used for this reaction showing >90% benzene selectivity with 11% methane conversion at 700 °C. Fast catalyst coking due to carbonaceous deposits results in a lower yield of aromatic products. This can be controlled
via different experimental treatments such as tuning in catalytic constituents, cofeeding with H 2 and oxygenates (CO 2 , CO, steam) and reactor design including
S. Mishra
Catalytic Reaction Engineering Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of
Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
Renewable Energy and Chemicals Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute
of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
T. S. Khan
Light Stock Processing Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, India
M. A. Haider
Renewable Energy and Chemicals Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute
of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
K. K. Pant (*)
Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi,
New Delhi, Delhi, India
e-mail: kkpant@chemical.iitd.ac.in
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
K. K. Pant et al. (eds.), Catalysis for Clean Energy and Environmental
Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-65021-6_7
Thermocatalytic Conversion of Natural
Gas to Petrochemical Feedstocks Via Nonoxidative Methods: Theoretical
and Experimental Approaches
Sourabh Mishra, Tuhin Suvra Khan, M. Ali Haider, and K. K. Pant
Abstract Requirement of efficient technologies to convert natural gas (methane)
into value-added products such as ethylene, aromatics (BTX), methanol and DME
is prompted due to recent discovery of large reserves of shale and natural gas. To
date, different direct and indirect processes have been explored involving all oxidative/non-oxidative routes. Direct conversion of methane into liquid aromatic hydrocarbons under oxygen-free environment (non-oxidative routes) is one of the
promising approaches for natural gas upgradation. Direct methane to aromatic conversion which is also known as methane dehydroaromatization (MDA) reaction is
performed at a temperature above 600 °C and atmospheric pressure producing benzene as major product and hydrogen as by-product. Lower thermodynamic equilibrium conversion and fast catalyst deactivation are the major challenges with the
reaction which restricts its commercialization. Mo/HZSM-5 and Mo/HMCM-22
are the well-known catalysts used for this reaction showing >90% benzene selectivity with 11% methane conversion at 700 °C. Fast catalyst coking due to carbonaceous deposits results in a lower yield of aromatic products. This can be controlled
via different experimental treatments such as tuning in catalytic constituents, cofeeding with H 2 and oxygenates (CO 2 , CO, steam) and reactor design including
S. Mishra
Catalytic Reaction Engineering Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of
Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
Renewable Energy and Chemicals Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute
of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
T. S. Khan
Light Stock Processing Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun, India
M. A. Haider
Renewable Energy and Chemicals Lab, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute
of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, India
K. K. Pant (*)
Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi,
New Delhi, Delhi, India
e-mail: kkpant@chemical.iitd.ac.in