RAPID

The rise in US natural gas supplied, tied to challenges/costs associated with natural gas logistics, point to the value of converting natural gas to liquid products. Indirect routes are generally energy inefficient and capital intensive. In contrast, direct non-oxidative natural gas conversion eliminates the syngas production step and required oxygen generation. However, these technologies have not been commercialized because of technical challenges such as low selectivity, coking, heat management, catalyst deactivation and catalyst regeneration. The goal of this project is to develop and demonstrate an innovative modular system intensified with microwave (MW) catalysis, which allows simultaneous production of high-value chemicals (e.g. aromatics) and hydrogen generation via direct non-oxidative natural gas conversion. Specifically, the technical merits consist of synergistically integrating microwave reaction chemistry with novel zeolite catalysts that selectively activate natural gas. The microwave catalysis will enable direct, non-oxidative natural gas conversion under mild conditions with high product yield.