	US 12,134,591 B2
	Methanol production from methane utilizing a supported chromium catalyst
Jamie N. Sutherland, Argyle, TX (US); James Hillier, Porter, TX (US); Gregory G. Hendrickson, Kingwood, TX (US); and Max P. McDaniel, Bartlesville, OK (US)
Assigned to Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP, The Woodlands, TX (US)
Filed by Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP, The Woodlands, TX (US)
Filed on Oct. 26, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/494,846.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/381,580, filed on Oct. 31, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0150268 A1, May 9, 2024
Int. Cl. C07C 29/09 (2006.01); B01J 23/26 (2006.01); B01J 35/61 (2024.01); B01J 35/63 (2024.01); C07C 29/48 (2006.01); C07C 29/74 (2006.01)

CPC C07C 29/48 (2013.01) [B01J 23/26 (2013.01); B01J 35/617 (2024.01); B01J 35/618 (2024.01); B01J 35/633 (2024.01); B01J 35/635 (2024.01); C07C 29/09 (2013.01); C07C 29/74 (2013.01); C07C 2523/26 (2013.01)]

28 Claims

1. A process for converting methane into methanol, the process comprising:

(i) contacting methane, water, and a supported chromium catalyst comprising chromium in a hexavalent oxidation state with a light beam at a wavelength in the UV-visible spectrum in an oxidizing atmosphere in a single reactor to form a reaction product comprising methanol, wherein:

the oxidizing atmosphere comprises air; and

a molar ratio of molecular oxygen in the oxidizing atmosphere to chromium of the supported chromium catalyst is at least 2:1;

(ii) discharging a reactor effluent containing the reaction product from the single reactor; and

(iii) separating methanol from the reaction product.