Electron-beam radiolysis of gaseous alkanes under circulation conditions: Gas-to-liquid transformation

The circulating mode of electron-beam irradiation was used for synthesis of the branched liquid hydrocarbons from the gaseous alkane mixtures, including natural gas and the associated petroleum gas. Atmospheric distillation of resulting liquids was characterized by boiling point range from 36 up to 200–230 °C. The average degree of molecular branching in the synthesized liquids was evaluated on the basis of their antiknock characteristics. The octane values of liquids synthesized from natural gaseous mixtures were above 95. The fractional composition and antiknock characteristics of synthesized liquids suggested the prevalence of C5–C11 isomers with highly branched structures. Fractional and isomeric compositions of the liquid products depended on the gas-phase composition, dose rate, and gas-dynamic conditions in the irradiation area.