Published May 1982
Mobil Research and Development Corporation has developed a proprietary process for converting natural gas via methanol into a high octane gasoline (HTG process). The fixed bed zeolite catalyst process operates at 300-350°C and 20-25 atmospheres pressure and converts the methanol into a highly aromatic (~35%) mixture in the C4-C10 gasoline range.
The product value of the gasoline (at 25% ROI) from the HTB process is considerably above the market price for unleaded premium gasoline (f.o.b. refinery, exclusive of taxes). It appears unlikely that the HTG process utilizing natural gas will ever be economic in the United States or other developed countries.
Two alternatives exist for improving the process economics: the methanol intermediate for the MTG process may be made via coal gasification; and the synthesis gas (CO + H2) can be processed directly to gasoline, bypassing the methanol step entirely.
