Methane continued

Methane (continued) silicalite, 42 66-70 zeolite A, 42 64-65 vibrational spectra, 42 207-210 ZSM-5 self-diffusion coefficients, 39 369-371... 

Changes that tend to continue to happen naturally are called spontaneous changes. Once started, a spontaneous change will carry on. When a light is applied, methane gas reacts with oxygen in a spontaneous reaction to form carbon dioxide and water. The reaction is spontaneous because the methane continues to burn in the oxygen until... 

Kyazze, G., Dinsdale, R., Guwy, A.I., Hawkes, F.R., Premier, G.C., Hawkes, D.L., 2007. Performance characteristics of a two-stage dark fermentative system producing hydrogen and methane continuously. Biotechnology and Bioengineering 97 (4), 759—770. 

Methane is the only alkane of molecular formula CH4 ethane the only one that is C2H6 and propane the only one that is C3Hj Beginning with C4H10 however constitutional isomers (Section 1 8) are possible two alkanes have this particular molecular formula In one called n butane, four carbons are joined m a continuous chain The nmn butane stands for normal and means that the carbon chain is unbranched The second isomer has a branched carbon chain and is called isobutane... 

Bonding m n butane and isobutane continues the theme begun with methane ethane and propane All of the carbon atoms are sp hybridized all of the bonds are ct bonds and the bond angles at carbon are close to tetrahedral This generalization holds for all alkanes regardless of the number of carbons they have... 

Historically, formaldehyde has been and continues to be manufactured from methanol. EoUowing World War II, however, as much as 20% of the formaldehyde produced in the United States was made by the vapor-phase, noncatalytic oxidation of propane and butanes (72). This nonselective oxidation process produces a broad spectmm of coproducts (73) which requites a complex cosdy separation system (74). Hence, the methanol process is preferred. The methanol raw material is normally produced from synthesis gas that is produced from methane. 

The earliest method for manufacturiag carbon disulfide involved synthesis from the elements by reaction of sulfur and carbon as hardwood charcoal in externally heated retorts. Safety concerns, short Hves of the retorts, and low production capacities led to the development of an electric furnace process, also based on reaction of sulfur and charcoal. The commercial use of hydrocarbons as the source of carbon was developed in the 1950s, and it was still the predominate process worldwide in 1991. That route, using methane and sulfur as the feedstock, provides high capacity in an economical, continuous unit. Retort and electric furnace processes are stiU used in locations where methane is unavailable or where small plants are economically viable, for example in certain parts of Africa, China, India, Russia, Eastern Europe, South America, and the Middle East. Other technologies for synthesis of carbon disulfide have been advocated, but none has reached commercial significance. 

Chlorine atoms obtained from the dissociation of chlorine molecules by thermal, photochemical, or chemically initiated processes react with a methane molecule to form hydrogen chloride and a methyl-free radical. The methyl radical reacts with an undissociated chlorine molecule to give methyl chloride and a new chlorine radical necessary to continue the reaction. Other more highly chlorinated products are formed in a similar manner. Chain terrnination may proceed by way of several of the examples cited in equations 6, 7, and 8. The initial radical-producing catalytic process is inhibited by oxygen to an extent that only a few ppm of oxygen can drastically decrease the reaction rate. In some commercial processes, small amounts of air are dehberately added to inhibit chlorination beyond the monochloro stage. 

Chlorination of Methane. Methane can be chlorinated thermally, photochemicaHy, or catalyticaHy. Thermal chlorination, the most difficult method, may be carried out in the absence of light or catalysts. It is a free-radical chain reaction limited by the presence of oxygen and other free-radical inhibitors. The first step in the reaction is the thermal dissociation of the chlorine molecules for which the activation energy is about 84 kj/mol (20 kcal/mol), which is 33 kJ (8 kcal) higher than for catalytic chlorination. This dissociation occurs sufficiendy rapidly in the 400 to 500°C temperature range. The chlorine atoms react with methane to form hydrogen chloride and a methyl radical. The methyl radical in turn reacts with a chlorine molecule to form methyl chloride and another chlorine atom that can continue the reaction. The methane raw material may be natural gas, coke oven gas, or gas from petroleum refining. 

Oxychlorination of methane can yield significant amounts of methylene chloride. A number of patents were obtained by Lummus in the mid-1970s on a high temperature, molten salt oxychlorination process (22,23). Catalyst development work has continued and generally consists of mixtures of Cu, Ni, Cr, or Fe promoted with an alkah metal (24—27). There are no industrial examples of this process at the present time. 

The rate of decomposition in unmanaged landfills, as measured by gas production, reaches a peak within the first 2 years and then slowly tapers off, continuing in many cases for periods up to 25 years or more. The total volume of the gases released during anaerobic decomposition can be estimated in a number of ways. If all the organic constituents in the wastes (with the exception of plastics, rubber, and leather) are represented with a generahzed formula of the form QH O N, the total volume of gas can be estimated by using Eq. (25-27) with the assumption of completed conversion to carbon dioxide and methane. 

The process gas of ethylene plants and methyl tertiary butyl ether plants is normally a hydrogen/ methane mixture. The molecular weight of the gas in such processes ranges from 3.5 to 14. The tliermodynamic behavior of hydrogen/methane mixtures has been and continues to be extensively researched. The gas dynamic design of turboexpanders, which are extensively used in such plants, depends on the equations of state of the process gas. Optimum performance of the turboexpander and associated equipment demands accurate thermodynamic properties for a wide range of process gas conditions. 

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