Higher Hydrocarbon Production through Oxidative Coupling of Methane Combined with Hydrogenation of Carbon Oxides

In the production of higher hydrocarbons, combining oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) with hydrogenation of the formed carbon oxides in a separate reactor provides an alternative to the currently applied methane conversion to syngas followed by Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The effects of CH4:O-2 feed ratio in the OCM reactor and partial pressures of H-2 or/and H2O in the hydrogenation reactor were analyzed to maximize production of C2+ hydrocarbons and reduce COx formation. The highest C2+ yield was achieved with low CH4: O-2 feed ratio for OCM and removal of the formed water before entering the hydrogenation reactor.