A MXene support for a noble metal that forms a catalyst having active sites comprising single metal-layer nanostructures. The catalyst is stable under conditions for methane conversion to higher hydrocarbons and provides reduced coke formation. The results show a supported metal catalyst using the MXene where Pt atoms form one or more layers of atoms on the surface of the Mo.sub.2TiC.sub.2T.sub.x support after it is reduced at 750° C. The catalyst shows high selectivity for C.sub.2-hydrocarbons with reduced coke formation, which can cost effectively convert methane into other valuable products.

A MXene support for a noble metal that forms a catalyst having active sites comprising single metal-layer nanostructures. The catalyst is stable under conditions for methane conversion to higher hydrocarbons and provides reduced coke formation. The results show a supported metal catalyst using the MXene where Pt atoms form one or more layers of atoms on the surface of the Mo.sub.2TiC.sub.2T.sub.x support after it is reduced at 750° C. The catalyst shows high selectivity for C.sub.2-hydrocarbons with reduced coke formation, which can cost effectively convert methane into other valuable products.

The disclosure provides for a process for a non-catalytic oxidative coupling of methane reaction remarkable in that the process comprises a step of providing a counter-current shell-tube reactor comprising at least two tubes defining a tubular part and a shell part surrounding the tubular part and at least one inlet to feed a gaseous feed stream and at least one outlet to discharge a product stream; a step of providing a gaseous feed stream comprising a gas mixture of methane and oxygen in a defined molar ratio and preheated to a defined operating inlet temperature; a step of feeding the gaseous feed stream at least in the tubular part of the counter-current shell-tube reactor and a step of recovering a product stream.

The disclosure provides for a process for a non-catalytic oxidative coupling of methane reaction remarkable in that the process comprises a step of providing a counter-current shell-tube reactor comprising at least two tubes defining a tubular part and a shell part surrounding the tubular part and at least one inlet to feed a gaseous feed stream and at least one outlet to discharge a product stream; a step of providing a gaseous feed stream comprising a gas mixture of methane and oxygen in a defined molar ratio and preheated to a defined operating inlet temperature; a step of feeding the gaseous feed stream at least in the tubular part of the counter-current shell-tube reactor and a step of recovering a product stream.

The invention includes a gas processing system for transforming a hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into outflow gas products, where the system includes a gas delivery subsystem, a plasma reaction chamber, and a microwave subsystem, with the gas delivery subsystem in fluid communication with the plasma reaction chamber, so that the gas delivery subsystem directs the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the plasma reaction chamber, and the microwave subsystem directs microwave energy into the plasma reaction chamber to energize the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas, thereby forming a plasma in the plasma reaction chamber, which plasma effects the transformation of a hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the outflow gas products, which comprise acetylene and hydrogen. The invention also includes methods for the use of the gas processing system.

The invention includes a gas processing system for transforming a hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into outflow gas products, where the system includes a gas delivery subsystem, a plasma reaction chamber, and a microwave subsystem, with the gas delivery subsystem in fluid communication with the plasma reaction chamber, so that the gas delivery subsystem directs the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the plasma reaction chamber, and the microwave subsystem directs microwave energy into the plasma reaction chamber to energize the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas, thereby forming a plasma in the plasma reaction chamber, which plasma effects the transformation of a hydrocarbon in the hydrocarbon-containing inflow gas into the outflow gas products, which comprise acetylene and hydrogen. The invention also includes methods for the use of the gas processing system.

The invention is directed to a chemical reactor (100) having (a) two or more gas reactor elements (12) with each gas reactor element (12) having (i) a first reaction chamber (38), and (ii) a feed assembly unit (36), (b) a second reaction chamber (20) coupled with each of the two or more gas reactor elements (12) and configured to independently receive two or more product streams from the two or more gas reactor elements (12); and optionally, (c) a gas converging section (40) located downstream to the second reaction chamber (20). The invention is further directed to a method of producing chemical products using the chemical reactor (100) of the present invention.

According to this disclosure, there is provided a pyrolysis reaction system and a direct non-oxidative methane coupling process using the same by which it is possible to reach the selectivity for good C.sub.≤10 hydrocarbons and at the same time to inhibit coke from being generated while a good methane conversion is maintained during direct conversion of methane into C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons through non-oxidative pyrolysis.

According to this disclosure, there is provided a pyrolysis reaction system and a direct non-oxidative methane coupling process using the same by which it is possible to reach the selectivity for good C.sub.≤10 hydrocarbons and at the same time to inhibit coke from being generated while a good methane conversion is maintained during direct conversion of methane into C.sub.2+ hydrocarbons through non-oxidative pyrolysis.

The invention is directed to a chemical reactor (100) having (a) two or more gas reactor elements (12) with each gas reactor element (12) having (i) a first reaction chamber (38), and (ii) a feed assembly unit (36), (b) a second reaction chamber (20) coupled with each of the two or more gas reactor elements (12) and configured to independently receive two or more product streams from the two or more gas reactor elements (12); and optionally, (c) a gas converging section (40) located downstream to the second reaction chamber (20). The invention is further directed to a method of producing chemical products using the chemical reactor (100) of the present invention.