Ethylene from Methane-Chlorine Reaction System

Published September 1982

A possible new route to ethylene from methane by its reaction with chlorine has been patented. SRI's evaluation of this speculative route shows that its economics are unfavorable compared with the established alternative of steam cracking of ethane, even when ethane is priced to allow for the costs of its extraction from a natural gas source. The prime reason for the economic disparity is the new route's substantially higher capital investment, caused to a major extent by the need for a large chlorine recovery and recycle system.