Low temperature direct oxidation of methane to methanol

Methane was oxidized by oxygen at temperatures as low as 473K or lower under pressurized conditions. The reaction was initialed by heated wire, which was set in the center of a pressurized reaction chamber. At the initial stage of the reaction, the methanol selectivity was as high as 90%, but its level decreased quickly with proceeding of the reaction time. When the reaction pressure was raised from 5 to 40atm, the methanol selectivity (at high O₂ conversion level) was increased from 2% to 30% whereas selectivities of C2 hydrocarbons of CO₂ decreased 30% to 10% or less. A new reaction model was claimed for the present reaction system.