Return to Russian/Soviet Patent Table of Contents Method Of Producing C1-C3 Hydrocarbons
Abstract A method is suggested to produce C1-C3 hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The disadvantages of the existing process include relatively high reaction temperature and the need for expensive platinum group metal-based catalysts. This invention is aimed at the improvement of existing process, including the decrease of operation temperature and the application of less-expensive ordinary catalysts. Carbon monoxide is reduced by means of sodium amalgam dissolved in an organic solvent (dimethyl formamide or dimethyl acetamide) at 80°C and 0.15-1 atmospheres. Cyclopentadienyl dichloride of vanadium or niobium is used as a catalyst. The reaction is carried out under intensive stirring of the reaction mixture. Phenols or diethyl barbituric acid are added to keep constant alkalinity of the solution. The reaction products contain methane (86 mol.%), ethane (9.5 mol.%), ethylene (1 mol.%), propane (2 mol.%), propylene (1.5 mol.%). |