Abstract: The activation of catalysts which include carbonate compounds is brought about by exposing the catalyst to an atmosphere containing hydrogen. The invention is useful for activating Group IIA carbonates, such as strontium carbonate, for use in the oxidative coupling of methane.

Abstract: A process for the production of ethylene from a methane rich gas stream and an ethane rich gas stream. The process comprises the steps of:(a) introducing the methane rich gas stream together with molecular oxygen into a lower zone of a fluidized-bed of particles which are catalytically active in promoting an exothermic oxidative coupling reaction to produce ethylene and other hydrocarbons,(b) mixing the ethane rich gas stream into the fluidized-bed above the level at which substantially all of the molecular oxygen has been consumed, and(c) subjecting the mixture resulting from step (b) to an endothermic pyrolysis reaction in an upper zone of the fluidized-bed to produce further ethylene and other olefinically unsaturated hydrocarbons.The process is characterized in that the pyrolysis step (c) is carried out substantially without the addition of heat to the reactor, other than the heat content of the methane rich and ethane rich gas streams and the heat generated by the exothermic oxidative coupling reaction.

Abstract: Catalysts containing a carbonate or carbonates, particularly Group IA and IIA carbonates, may be hardened sufficiently to be useable in fluidized bed reactors. The catalysts are heated to at least 700.degree. C. in an atmosphere containing carbon dioxide under a partial pressure above the dissociation pressure of the carbonate form of the catalyst.

Abstract: An improved catalyst for the oxidative coupling of methane containing a Group IIA element capable, under the reaction conditions, of existing at least partly in its oxide or carbonate form and a clay or a synthetic analogue of a clay. The catalyst preferably comprises an intimate mixture of strontium carbonate and bentonite, in a weight ratio of 80:20. The catalyst advantageously also contains a Group IA oxide or carbonate such as sodium carbonate.

Abstract: A technique is described which enables agglomerating coals (caking coals) to be flash pyrolyzed in a fluidized-bed reactor without agglomerates forming in the fluidized-bed. The technique requires the inert particles of the fluidized-bed to be coarser and denser than the particulate coal being pyrolyzed. With this arrangement the momentum of the inert particles in the fluidized-bed is believed to destroy the agglomerates as they form.