Catalytic activation of C1—C3 alkanes

The conversion of CH4 and the C6H6—C3H8 mixture over (M, ReOx)/Al2O3 (M = Ni, Co, Pt) analogues of industrial low-octane gasoline reforming catalysts containing 0.5 wt % M in a finely divided state and 0.3–1.0 wt % Re is reported. The unreduced catalysts activate the conversion of CH4 into C6H6 at 650°C. Using (M, ReOx)/Al2O3 + HZ catalytic mixtures (HZ = H-form of zeolite Y, M, or ZSM-5), it is possible to carry out low-temperature C6H6 alkylation or C3H8 dehydrogenation at 180–350°C. These processes are aimed at involving oil refining waste into obtaining valuable hydrocarbons. The processes can be commercial- ized at low-octane reforming and gas-phase benzene alkylation plants and can be intensified by separating the resulting H2 in membrane reactors.