This technology deals with the conversion of
natural gas to hydrocarbon liquids such as gasoline or diesel fuel. One method starts with partial oxidation of
methane (a component in natural gas) to
carbon dioxide,
carbon monoxide,
hydrogen and water, the
carbon monoxide to hydrogen (H
2) ratio is adjusted using the
water gas shift reaction) and the excess
carbon dioxide removal by aqueous solutions of alkanolamine (or physical solvents) the water is removed yielding
synthesis gas (
syngas) that is chemically reacted over an iron or cobalt catalyst to produce liquid hydrocarbons and other byproducts. See
Fischer-Tropsch. An alternative path starts by conversion of the natural gas to syngas, conversion of the syngas to
methanol which is subsequently polymerized into
alkanes over a
zeolite catalyst.