The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 16, 1980
Filed:
Nov. 15, 1977
William C Pfefferle, Middletown, NJ (US);
Engelhard Minerals and Chemicals Corporation, Iselin, NJ (US);
Abstract
Methanol is passed over a catalyst at an elevated temperature and pressure to produce a fuel gas containing a high proportion of methane in a one-step catalytic conversion process. Removal of water and carbon dioxide from the fuel gas produces a synthetic natural gas. For example, methanol with water is passed over a precious metal catalyst such as ruthenium on alumina at a temperature in the range of about 350.degree. C. to 500.degree. C. and a pressure in the range of about 800 to 2500 psig to produce a gaseous mixture comprising methane, carbon dioxide, minor amounts of hydrogen and essentially no carbon monoxide. Upon condensing the water vapor and scrubbing out the carbon dioxide, synthetic natural gas is obtained having a methane content above 90% by volume.