Process Intensification Opportunities for Direct Methane Valorisation

Abstract

Efficiently and selectively converting methane to value-added chemicals such as olefins, aromatics and hydrogen presents one of the main chemical engineering challenges of the first half of the 21st century. Despite numerous encouraging developments in catalysis, the performance of these processes is still largely subject to a trade-off in methane conversion and selectivity towards the desired product. In addition, most processes require high temperatures and exhibit significant catalyst deactivation, which calls for advanced heating and regeneration concepts. In this chapter, five representative direct methane valorisation reactions are introduced, and the challenges of these conversions are discussed. Subsequently, process intensification concepts are discussed to address these challenges. It is shown that through the integration of reaction and separation, as well as employing novel reactors featuring advanced regeneration concepts and means of heating, the efficiency and economics of the various processes can be improved. A review of these developments is supplemented with some comments on the roadblocks that currently hinder the implementation of these technologies.