Chemical technology of natural gas – its present state and prospects

Abstract
Against the background of long‐term availability of natural gas, its present technology and future prospects are described. Particular emphasis is put on the oxidative coupling of methane to C2+hydrocarbons: (1) Catalyst development, activity, selectivity and deactivation as well as reactor operation are discussed; (2) a tentative process scheme is put forward and its economics evaluated with respect to ethylene production.
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