CONVERSION OF METHANE TO PROPANAL AT AMBIENT PRESSURE

A continuous process is described using three catalysts in sequence fo r the synthesis of the C3 oxygenate propanal, from methane and air, at 1 atm in 13.2 % yield. The three catalytic reactions are the methane oxidative coupling to ethene, methane partial oxygenation to synthesis gas, and the hydroformylation of ethene. The combined process implies that a higher yield of propanal can be obtained than for the formatio n of ethene from the oxidative coupling reaction alone. We have examin ed the effect of reaction conditions on the yield of propanal.