C.sub.2 + hydrocarbons can be effectively converted to primarily unsaturated hydrocarbons and hydrogen using microwave radiation in the presence of at least one plasma initiator that is capable of initiating an electric discharge in an electromagnetic field.
Plasma initiators that have become deactivated due to the accumulation of carbonaceous deposits, sulfur deposits, or both thereon can be regenerated by contact with an oxygen-containing gas in the presence of microwave radiation.
Plasma initiators that have become deactivated due to the accumulation of carbonaceous deposits, sulfur deposits, or both thereon can be regenerated by contact with a gas containing molecular hydrogen in the presence of microwave radiation.
The activity maintenance of the plasma initiators used during the upgrading of a hydrocarbon feedstock in a reaction zone using microwave radiation can be improved if molecular hydrogen is added to the reaction zone such that the weight ratio of carbon (in the molecules in contact with the plasma initiators) to hydrogen is maintained at less than 6:1 during upgrading.
A process is provided for selectively converting methane and a hydrating agent to C.sub.3 to oxygenates. More particularly, methane is reacted with water in the presence of a nickel metal powder catalyst using microwave irradiation to produce acetone and propanol.
