A process for converting gaseous alkanes to liquid hydrocarbons wherein a
gaseous feed containing alkanes is reacted with a dry bromine vapor to
form alkyl bromides and hydrobromic acid vapor. The mixture of alkyl
bromides and hydrobromic acid are then reacted over a synthetic
crystalline alumino-silicate catalyst, such as a ZSM-5 zeolite, at a
temperature of from about 150.degree. C. to about 450.degree. C. so as to
form higher molecular weight hydrocarbons and hydrobromic acid vapor.
Propane and butane which comprise a portion of the products may be
recovered or recycled back through the process to form additional
C.sub.5+ hydrocarbons. Various methods are disclosed to remove the
hydrobromic acid vapor from the higher molecular weight hydrocarbons and
to generate bromine from the hydrobromic acid for use in the process.