The conversion of methane in the presence of co-feeding ethylene and methanol, respectively, has been studied over W/HZSM-5
catalyst. Experiments were conducted at temperature 400oC at a GHSV (CH4/C2H4) = 1200 ml/g.h and atmospheric pressure. The products of the reaction are ethane, propane, butane (C2-C4 alkanes), ethylene, propylene, butane (C2-C4 alkenes), C5+ aliphatics, and
aromatics including benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, trimethyl benzene, isopropyl benzene, xylene. The percentage of heavy
hydrocarbons (C5+ aliphatics and aromatics) increase with increase in concentration of ethylene in the CH4/C2H4 feed mixture. A significant increase in the production of heavy hydrocarbons product with the addition of methanol to CH4/C2H4 mixture was also observed. The catalytic activation of methane, the main component of natural gas is important since it can be
converted into higher hydrocarbons. The first is the transformation of natural gas into synthesis gas (CO + H2). The synthesis gas undergoes a Fischer–Tropsch reaction, forming hydrocarbons in the diesel and petrochemical naphtha range, in a route known as traditional gas-to-liquid (GTL). The second is the transformation of natural gas into synthesis gas which is reacts to form methanol which is transformed to gasoline by using a methanol-to-gasoline (MTG). The MTG process yields high octane gasoline that is rich in aromatics, which would make it unsuitable for use under current regulations in many countries. Previous study, Alkhawaldeh et al. (2003) convert methane into higher molecular weight hydrocarbons. In the present study, the conversion of methane with the presence of co-feeding ethylene and methanol is reported. A mixture of CH4/C2H4 and CH4/CH3OH, respectively was reacted over W/HZSM-5. The addition of methanol to a CH4/C2H4 feed mixture was also investigated. The reaction produces high molecular weight hydrocarbons C5+ aliphatics and aromatics in the gasoline range and lighter hydrocarbons (C1-C4). The percentage of heavy hydrocarbons product increases with increase ratio ethylene in the CH4/C2H4 and incorporation of methanol to CH4/C2H4.