Process for producing methane from gas streams containing carbon monoxide and hydrogen

Patent · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:863756

Frost, Albert C.

Carbon monoxide-containing gas streams are passed over a catalyst capable of catalyzing the disproportionation of carbon monoxide so as to deposit a surface layer of active surface carbon on the catalyst essentially without formation of inactive coke thereon. The surface layer is contacted with steam and is thus converted to methane and CO₂, from which a relatively pure methane product may be obtained. While carbon monoxide-containing gas streams having hydrogen or water present therein can be used only the carbon monoxide available after reaction with said hydrogen or water is decomposed to form said active surface carbon. Although hydrogen or water will be converted, partially or completely, to methane that can be utilized in a combustion zone to generate heat for steam production or other energy recovery purposes, said hydrogen is selectively removed from a CO--H₂ -containing feed stream by partial oxidation thereof prior to disproportionation of the CO content of said stream.

• Research Organization: Union Carbide Corporation, New York, NY (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC03-78CS40177
• Assignee: Union Carbide Corporation (New York, NY)
• Patent Number(s): 4,242,105
• Application Number: 06/083473
• OSTI ID: 863756
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: 1979 Oct 10
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

process
producing
methane
gas
streams
containing
carbon
monoxide
hydrogen
monoxide-containing
passed
catalyst
capable
catalyzing
disproportionation
deposit
surface
layer
active
essentially
formation
inactive
coke
thereon
contacted
steam
converted
relatively
pure
product
obtained
water
therein
available
reaction
decomposed
form
partially
completely
utilized
combustion
zone
generate
heat
production
energy
recovery
purposes
selectively
removed
co-h
-containing
feed
stream
partial
oxidation
prior
content
streams containing
carbon monoxide-containing
relatively pure
partial oxidation
combustion zone
carbon monoxide
gas stream
feed stream
gas streams
surface layer
active surface
containing gas
energy recovery
containing carbon
surface carbon
selectively removed
monoxide-containing gas
catalyst capable
selectively remove
inactive coke
producing methane
methane product
oxide-containing gas
/48/423/518/585/