INTEGRIERTES VERFAHREN ZUR SYNTHESE VON ALKOHOLEN UND ETHERN AUS ALKANEN

摘要

The present invention provides a method for synthesizing alcohols and/or ethers, from alkanes comprising: providing a quantity of an alkane selected from the group consisting of methane, ethane, propane, butane, and isobutane; providing a quantity of bromine; mixing the alkane and the bromine and thereby forming an alkyl bromide and hydrogen bromide; reacting the alkyl bromide and the hydrogen bromide with a metal oxide and thereby forming alcohol and/or ether and a metal bromide; oxidizing the metal bromide to form the original metal oxide and bromine; recycling the metal oxide; and recycling the bromine. The present invention further provides a method for converting methanol to dimethyl ether.