METHOD FOR PRODUCTION ETHYLENE FROM NATURAL GAS Russian patent published in 2001 - IPC

FIELD: industrial organic synthesis. SUBSTANCE: natural gas is pyrolyzed under the influence of hydrogen plasma to yield acetylene-containing gas. Acetylene, without being isolated from pyrolysis gas, is hydrogenised into ethylene in presence of catalyst in liquid solvent having boiling temperature close to optimum acetylene-into-ethylene hydrogenation temperature to prevent overheating of catalyst, whereas heat arising from condensation of solvent vapors is used to generate cold. Ethylene is recovered from hydrogenation products by low-temperature rectification. Hydrogen-containing gas produced in the course of pyrolysis is recycled into pyrolysis stage and its excessive amounts are used as fuel gas on gas-turbine installation or as commercial product. Insignificant amounts of liquid acetylene-hydrogenation products are also returned into pyrolysis stage as secondary raw material. EFFECT: increased yield of ethylene (up to 82 wt %), essentially reduced power consumption, and eliminated waste. 3 cl, 1 dwg