Turning methane into methanol under ambient conditions using light

A group of researchers, led by scientists at the University of Manchester, have developed an economical method of converting methane, into liquid methanol at low temperatures and pressures. The method takes place in a  continuous flow of methane/oxygen-saturated water over a novel metal-organic framework (MOF) catalyst using visible light to drive the conversion. The new conversion method could substantially lower the operating costs and with the higher speed of the process and its ability to do the conversion with no undesirable by products makes this system a winner.

Image ORNL/Jill Hemman



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