Process for cleaving hydrogen out of gaseous hydrocarbons to form heavier hydrocarbons that can be condensed

摘要

The invention relates to a process for converting light hydrocarbons like methane and ethane into condensable products called liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). The process involves the use of metals that can form high- temperature hydrides, which can cleave hydrogen out of light hydrocarbons. Such hydride-forming metals are exemplified by magnesium and uranium. The hydride-forming metal can be present either as the walls of the reactor or as a particulate compound. In the first case, the hydrogen gas formed is removed by diffusion through the walls of the reactor, while in the second case this is achieved by removing the particles from the reaction zone and transferring them to a second reactor where the metal is recovered by removing the hydrogen from it.