Using bromine at relatively low temperature to activate the light alkanes present in natural gas allows for selective partial oxidation without oxygen.  The process includes three basic steps, i) bromination under bromine limiting concentrations, ii) reaction of alkylbromides to form hydrocarbon products, and iii) catalytic recovery of the bromine.  The alkylbromides have many reactivity features in common with alcohols and thus the wide variety of products available from methanol or ethanol feeds can also be produced from methyl or ethylbromides.  The hydrocarbon products include polymer grade olefins, BTX aromatics, and fuels.  The high molecular weight of the alkylbromides provides for a significant boiling point difference between the intermediates for ease of separation and use of a solid-reactant for recovery of the bromine can minimize bromine or hydrobromic acid inventories.  The process has promise for production of olefins and aromatic chemicals, as well as fuel components from abundant shale gas resources.

Bromine mediated conversion of light alkanes to hydrocarbons

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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