Catalytic Conversion of Methane to Methanol Using Cu-Zeolites

Authors

  • Evalyn Mae C. Alayon ETH Zurich, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 10, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
  • Maarten Nachtegaal ETH Zurich, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 10, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
  • Marco Ranocchiari ETH Zurich, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 10, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
  • Jeroen A. van Bokhoven ETH Zurich, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 10, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland. jeroen.vanbokhoven@chem.ethz.ch

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2533/chimia.2012.668

Keywords:

Cu-zeolites, Methane, Methanol, Partial oxidation, X-ray absorption spectroscopy

Abstract

The conversion of methane to value-added liquid chemicals is a promising answer to the imminent demand for fuels and chemical synthesis materials in the advent of a dwindling petroleum supply. Current technology requires high energy input for the synthesis gas production, and is characterized by low overall selectivity, which calls for alternative reaction routes. The limitation to achieve high selectivity is the high C–H bond strength of methane. High-temperature reaction systems favor gas-phase radical reactions and total oxidation. This suggests that the catalysts for methane activation should be active at low temperatures. The enzymatic-inspired metal-exchanged zeolite systems apparently fulfill this need, however, methanol yield is low and a catalytic process cannot yet be established. Homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytic systems have been described which stabilize the intermediate formed after the first C–H activation. The understanding of the reaction mechanism and the determination of the active metal sites are important for formulating strategies for the upgrade of methane conversion catalytic technologies.

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Published

2012-09-26

How to Cite

[1]
E. M. C. Alayon, M. Nachtegaal, M. Ranocchiari, J. A. van Bokhoven, Chimia 2012, 66, 668, DOI: 10.2533/chimia.2012.668.