Process for the production of ethylene and other hydrocarbons from coal

Patent · Wed Feb 15 00:00:00 EST 1984

OSTI ID:6000715

Steinberg, M; Fallon, P

The subject invention comprises the steps of first reacting particulate coal with methane at a temperature in the approximate range of 500/sup 0/C to 1100/sup 0/C and at a partial pressure of methane of less than about 200 psig for a period of less than 10 seconds. More preferably, the method of the subject invention is carried out at a temperature of approximately 850/sup 0/C to 1000/sup 0/C and a pressure of 50 psig for a period of approximately 1.5 seconds. Surprisingly, it has been found that in the practice of the subject invention not only are commercially significant quantities of ethylene produced, namely yields in excess of 10% (percent carbon converted to product), along with economically significant quantities of-benzene and light oils, namely toluene and xylene, but also that there is little, if any, net consumption of methane in the reaction and possibly even a small net production. Since it is apparent that the carbonaceous solids or char remaining after the reaction is carried out may be burned to provide the necessary energy to carry out the process of the subject invention, it is apparent that the subject invention advantageously provides a method for the conversion of coal to economically significant quantities of ethylene, benzene and light oils while requiring only coal and, possibly, small amounts of make-up methane. Other objects and advantages of the subject invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from a consideration of the attached drawings, the detailed description of the invention, and the experimental examples set forth below.

• DOE Contract Number: AC02-76CH00016
• Assignee: Dept. of Energy
• Application Number: ON: TI85006010
• OSTI ID: 6000715
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
BENZENE
YIELDS
CHARS
COAL
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
PYROLYSIS
ETHYLENE
METHANE
CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERES
TOLUENE
XYLENES
CHEMICAL FEEDSTOCKS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COAL TAR
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
FLASH HEATING
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
PRODUCTION
REMOVAL
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
ALKANES
ALKENES
ALKYLATED AROMATICS
AROMATICS
ATMOSPHERES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CHALCOGENIDES
DATA
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HEATING
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
MATERIALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PYROLYSIS PRODUCTS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TAR
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
090121* - Hydrocarbon Fuels- Chemical Synthesis- (1976-1989)