Photochemical methane partial oxidation to methanol assisted by H2O2

Abstract The photochemical conversion of methane into methanol from H 2 O 2 aqueous solution as well as the effect of the addition mode were studied. Direct addition of different amounts H 2 O 2 leads to increasing methanol production at the first stage of the reaction. The excess of H 2 O 2 would lead to the reactive oxygen species scavenging and the subsequent O 2 production. It was also corroborated that extra hydroxyl radicals in the aqueous medium do not improve the formation of methanol but a noticeable increase in the formation of HCOOH with respect to methanol was evidenced. In contrast, dosing addition at relatively low rates leads to constant methane consumption towards methanol. Methanol formation would be in this case in equilibrium with further oxidation to HCOOH or CO 2 . This suggests that only a controlled constant availability of HO ’s at low concentration can enhance the performance of methanol generation in the photochemical process.