NU 2014-181
INVENTORS
SHORT DESCRIPTION
This innovation leverages transition metal oxides that partially convert to sulfides with S2 to efficiently convert methane into ethylene. It targets industrial chemical production by reducing cost and enhancing selectivity.
BACKGROUND
Current industrial methods for producing ethylene from methane rely on expensive noble metals and suffer from low conversion and selectivity. These limitations cause high production costs and hinder scalability. The market needs a process that lowers operating costs while achieving higher conversion rates.
ABSTRACT
The invention employs transition metal oxides that partially transform into sulfides under the influence of S2. Operating at high catalyst loadings with elevated gas flow rates, the system prioritizes enhanced ethylene selectivity. The approach eliminates the need for noble metals, thereby reducing catalyst costs while yielding improved conversion performance in a laboratory reactor setting.
MARKET OPPORTUNITY
The primary target market is the global ethylene market, which was valued at $182.6 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach $320.9 billion by 2033 (Source: Market.us, 2024). This market is dominated by steam cracking, an energy-intensive process reliant on feedstocks like naphtha. The key market driver is the "shale gas revolution," which has created a massive supply of low-cost methane, driving intense demand for a direct methane-to-ethylene conversion process (Source: MDPI, 2022). This technology directly addresses the critical need for a cost-effective alternative to noble-metal catalysts, overcoming the low conversion and selectivity issues that have made current methane-based methods commercially unviable.
DEVELOPMENT STAGE
TRL-4 – Prototype Validated in Lab: The key functions have been demonstrated using a laboratory-scale reactor that confirms improved methane conversion efficiency.
APPLICATIONS
ADVANTAGES
PUBLICATIONS
IP STATUS
Issued US Patent 10,227,268 (View Patent)