3259.     ---------------.  [STANLEY, H. M., AND NASH, A. W.]  Production of Gaseous, Liquid, and Solid Hydrocarbons From Methane.  I.  Thermal Decomposition of Methane.  Jour. Soc. Chem. Ind., vol. 48, 1929, pp. 1-8T; Chem. Abs., vol. 23, 1929, p. 1866.

        Under suitable conditions, CH₄ forms higher liquid and solid hydrocarbons when heated.  These conditions have been found to be short times of contact on the order of less than 1 sec. and at temperatures at 1,000°-1,200°.  The products may consist of C₂H₂, C₂H₄, C₂H₆, higher olefins, benzene, and higher aromatic hydrocarbons, C, and H₂.  The % conversion of CH₄ into higher hydrocarbons increases rapidly with increasing gas rate and rapidly reaches a maximum at a given temperature.