Return to Japanese Patent Table of Contents JP06184559 Abstract A process for the conversion of natural gas into higher hydrocarbons, which comprises the following steps: (i) reacting natural gas with steam in at least one reforming zone containing a reforming catalyst to produce a first product stream containing carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen; (ii) passing said first product stream, without separating said carbon dioxide, to a Fischer-Tropsch reactor to produce a second product stream including hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide; (iii) passing said second product stream to a recovery zone where the desired higher hydrocarbon products are recovered, the remaining components of said second product stream forming a third product stream; (iv) passing at least a portion of said third product stream into the reforming zone of process step (i). PURPOSE: To economically and advantageously produce higher hydrocarbons from natural gas. CONSTITUTION: This process includes the following steps: (i) reacting natural gas with steam in at least one reforming zone containing a reforming catalyst to produce a first product stream containing carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen; (ii) passing the first product stream, without separating the carbon dioxide, to a Fischer-Tropsch reactor to produce a second product stream including hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide; (iii) passing the second product stream to a recovery zone where desired higher hydrocarbon products are recovered (the remaining components of the second product stream forming a third product stream); (iv) passing at least a portion of the third product stream into the reforming zone of process step (i). |