Development of the foundation for direct conversion of methane to methanol

Methanol is currently produced from methane by the catalytic oxidation of methane to synthesis gas, followed by catalytic methanol synthesis. A single-step partial oxidation of methane to methanol would be highly desirable, if the reaction kinetics could be controlled. Using such an approach, the authors have experimentally achieved 70% conversion selectively to methanol at low yield, and have developed a predictive free-radical chemical kinetics model based on fundamental measurements. This model is described in this paper. Oxidation of methane with slightly substoichiometric to stoichiometric concentrations of oxygen at pressures greater than 50 atm and temperatures in the range of 800-1000 {Kappa} is predicted to give attractive yields of methanol when the free-radical populations can be controlled and the reaction can be optimally terminated.