PARTIAL OXIDATION OF METHANE TO METHANOL - COMPARISON OF HETEROGENEOUS CATALYST AND HOMOGENEOUS GAS-PHASE REACTIONS

Potential catalysts for the partial oxidation of methane to methanol h ave been synthesised and tested in high pressure annular reactors. Ura nium oxide and molybdenum oxide catalysts and iron sodalite catalyst h ave been tested under the conditions reported in the patents and under conditions which allow comparison with reactions carried out in the g as phase. None of the catalysts tested showed an improvement on the ga s phase results. It was found that the oxidative nature of the metal o xide catalysts is an inherent feature which reduces the selectivity to methanol.