Converting Methane Gas into Liquid Fuel

摘要

Researchers at the Univ. of Washington (UW) and the Univ. of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) have taken an important step toward converting methane gas to a liquid. Methane is an attractive fuel and raw material for making other chemicals for several reasons. As the primary component of natural gas, it is plentiful. And, it is more efficient than oil and produces less pollution. Thus, it could serve as a practical substitute for petroleum-based fuels until renewable fuels are widely useable and available. However, methane is difficult and costly to transport because it remains a gas at atmospheric conditions.