Utilization of natural gas

Direct conversion of methane to ethane and ethylene (C2 hydrocarbons) has a large implication towards the utilization of natural gas in the gas-based petrochemical and liquid fuels industries [ 1 ]. CO2 OCM process provides an alternative route to produce useful chemicals and materials where the process utilizes CO2 as the feedstock in an environmentally-benefiting chemical process. Carbon dioxide rather than oxygen seems to be an alternative oxidant as methyl radicals are induced in the presence of oxygen. Basicity, reducibility, and ability of catalyst to form oxygen vacancies are some of the physico-chemical criteria that are essential in designing a suitable catalyst for the CO2 OCM process [2]. The synergism between catalyst reducibility and basicity was reported to play an important role in the activation of the carbon dioxide and methane reaction [2]. 

Figurel. Schematic Representation of the methods utilization of natural gas in fuel cells and fuel apphcations...

Under present supply conditions, and bearing in mind the economic law of marginal utility, combustion still establishes the market values of natural gas liquids and other primary petroleum products. Still there are other chemical reactions of major importance in the utilization of natural gas liquids. 

The main drivers for the utilization of natural gas in power sector is twofold 1) emission reduction by shifting fuel from oil and/or coal to gas, and 2) the possibility of introducing combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) technology with high electric efficiency (58 %). 

Figure 14.5 shows lost work figures for the utilization of natural gas for various purposes. From this picture, it can be concluded that it is best to use natural gas for those chemical processes in which its exergy eventually ends... 

It is certain that world use of natural gas will increase dramatically in the near future as industrialized countries replace coal-fired facilities with cleaner-burning natural gas. In addition, a number of countries remote from major markets are in the process of installing world-scale plants for utilization of natural gas and gas liquids for production of fertilizers, methanol, premium gasoline blending stocks, and other basic petrochemical derivatives that will result in higher-value products from natural gas and gas liquids for which there are no local markets. 

Such savings will greatly enhance the utilization of natural gas for liquid fuels production (ref. 7). Considerable effort is also... 

DHAM in the absence of gas-phase oxygen has been considered as a promising approach for the utilization of natural gas [40, 41]. Supported VIB group metal... 

The various options for utilization of natural gas from northern Alaska include (i) Lower 48 States market, (ii) Pacific-Rim markets, (iii) conversion to fuel grade methanol and/or gasoline, (iv) use of natural gas for EOR processes, (v) gas based petrochemicals and, (vi) gas-utilities systems. Among all the options discussed it appears that most expedient use of the North Slope gas is for the enhanced oil recovery. Conversion of the natural gas into methanol and its transport through existing pipeline as well as transportation of natural gas in the form of liquified natural gas to Pacific Rim countries could also become economically viable options. 

The Carbon Footprint of Ammonia Process - Case Study on Utilization of Natural Gas Environmental Sustainability... 

In the 19th century, the commercial utilization of natural gas began in Europe and North America. An essential contribution to this was the invention of the Bunsen burner by Robert Bunsen in the year 1885. With this device, natural gas could be mixed with air in the proper ratio to enable safe combustion. 

The evolution of the modern society is directly related and even dependent on the availability of vast number and variety of chemicals, used in the chemical, polymer, food, textile, etc., industries. Preparation of the majority of these compounds involves or directly originates from petrochemicals. However, due to the limited and continuously and inexorably diminishing reserves of petroleum worldwide, alternative methods for making these chemicals need to be found. One alternative is the utilization of natural gas, composed mainly not only of methane but also nonnegligible amounts of C2-C4 alkanes, depending on the resource location. The estimations show that the reserves of natural gas are unlimited and currently its main application is as fuel. 

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