1.3 Direct Conversion of Methane in Industrial Processes
5
1.3.3 Carbon Disulfide
Carbon disulfide (CS 2 ) is produced by the reaction of methane with sulfur vapor.
CH 4 + α S x
CS 2 + 2 H 2 S
(1.3)
Above, x is between 2 and 8, because α S x is an equilibrium mixture of S 2 , S 6 , and S 8 .
The main use of CS 2 is the production of regenerated cellulose for rayon, cellophane,
and synthetic sponges.
1.3.4 Acetylene
In the oldest process for the synthesis of acetylene, coke and lime are heated to
2000 °C in an electric furnace to produce calcium carbide, which is hydrolyzed by
H 2 O to produce acetylene. The more modern Wulff process utilizes natural gas (primarily methane) and produces a 1:2 mixture of acetylene and ethylene via the pyrolysis of methane at high temperatures (~1600 K). Acetylene can be further reacted with
formaldehyde to produce 1,4-butynediol, which can then be hydrogenated stepwise
to butenediol and butanediol.
1.4 Direct Conversion of Methane for C–O and C–C Bond
Formation: Methanol, Methanol Derivatives,
and Higher Hydrocarbons
Great effort has been invested in making direct natural gas conversion processes
economically competitive with indirect processes, especially for the production
methanol and ethylene [6, 9–14]. Many researchers have reported methods for the
control of methane conversion based on investigations of the role of heterogeneous
[15–20], homogeneous [21–30], and biological [31–37] catalysts, determination
of reaction mechanisms using spectroscopic analysis [38–40] and computational
chemistry [41–44], and optimization of the reaction environment [45–47].
An overall classification scheme for chemical production using methane is shown
in Fig. 1.3. This classification is based mainly on whether C–O or C–C bonds are
formed via the direct conversion of methane. The products are methanol, methanol
derivatives such as methyl sulfate (CH 3 OSO 3 H), and higher hydrocarbons with a
carbon number of two or greater. In this book, these higher hydrocarbons are referred
to as C 2
+ hydrocarbons.
5
1.3.3 Carbon Disulfide
Carbon disulfide (CS 2 ) is produced by the reaction of methane with sulfur vapor.
CH 4 + α S x
CS 2 + 2 H 2 S
(1.3)
Above, x is between 2 and 8, because α S x is an equilibrium mixture of S 2 , S 6 , and S 8 .
The main use of CS 2 is the production of regenerated cellulose for rayon, cellophane,
and synthetic sponges.
1.3.4 Acetylene
In the oldest process for the synthesis of acetylene, coke and lime are heated to
2000 °C in an electric furnace to produce calcium carbide, which is hydrolyzed by
H 2 O to produce acetylene. The more modern Wulff process utilizes natural gas (primarily methane) and produces a 1:2 mixture of acetylene and ethylene via the pyrolysis of methane at high temperatures (~1600 K). Acetylene can be further reacted with
formaldehyde to produce 1,4-butynediol, which can then be hydrogenated stepwise
to butenediol and butanediol.
1.4 Direct Conversion of Methane for C–O and C–C Bond
Formation: Methanol, Methanol Derivatives,
and Higher Hydrocarbons
Great effort has been invested in making direct natural gas conversion processes
economically competitive with indirect processes, especially for the production
methanol and ethylene [6, 9–14]. Many researchers have reported methods for the
control of methane conversion based on investigations of the role of heterogeneous
[15–20], homogeneous [21–30], and biological [31–37] catalysts, determination
of reaction mechanisms using spectroscopic analysis [38–40] and computational
chemistry [41–44], and optimization of the reaction environment [45–47].
An overall classification scheme for chemical production using methane is shown
in Fig. 1.3. This classification is based mainly on whether C–O or C–C bonds are
formed via the direct conversion of methane. The products are methanol, methanol
derivatives such as methyl sulfate (CH 3 OSO 3 H), and higher hydrocarbons with a
carbon number of two or greater. In this book, these higher hydrocarbons are referred
to as C 2
+ hydrocarbons.