Oxidative pyrolysis of methane to higher hydrocarbons: Effects of water in feed

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Abstract
Direct conversion of methane into higher hydrocarbons (ethane, ethylene, and to small extent C3‐4 hydrocarbons) by its partial oxidation with oxygen in the absence of catalyst has been investigated. It was carried out in a quartz flow reactor at atmospheric pressure under nonflame conditions at different temperatures (1,123‐1,273 K), CH4/O2 ratios (1.7‐9.0), space velocities (500‐5,000 h−1), and water concentrations (0.0‐80 mol %) in the feed. No coke deposition was observed in the reactor, but there was a formation of small amounts of tarry matter in the reaction at ≥ 1,223 K, particularly for the lower CH4/O2 ratios (≤3.5). The product distribution in the process was strongly influenced by the dilution of feed with N2 or water. Addition of water in the feed was highly beneficial to obtaining higher yield and/or to selectivity for the higher hydrocarbons and suppressing almost completely the formation of tarry matter.
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