NEW APPROACHES FOR METHANE UPGRADING FEATURE CATALYSIS USING MOFS

摘要

The abundance of methane resulting from the accelerated development of U.S. shale gas reserves (via hydrofracturing) has reinvigorated research in the direct catalytic conversion of methane to more valuable chemical intermediates. A primary focus has been on the direct synthesis of methanol, formic acid, and acetic acid. The 'holy grail' is the direct conversion of methane to methanol with high selectivity and high yield, since methanol can be converted to any number of fuels (i.e., to gasoline via ExxonMobil's methanol-to-gasoline (MTG) technology or to dimethyl ether (DME) for diesel engines). Methanol is also a preferred feedstock for the production of light olefins, namely ethylene and propylene, through China's or UOP's methanol-to-olefins (MTO) technologies. The present approach for producing methanol from methane involves a multistep process that is economically challenged, especially for small-scale operations.