| 摘要 |
It is the objective of the present invention to provide a process for the conversion of methane into methanol that has a high selectivity, while providing advantageous and energy-saving conditions for this process. This objective is achieved according to the present invention by a process for low temperature and isothermal methane to methanol conversion at temperatures below 280°C using oxygen; comprising the steps of:
a) activating a catalyst material with an oxygen-containing gas, preferably molecular oxygen, or an inert gas such as helium, nitrogen and argon;
b) feeding methane to the activated catalyst material thereby reacting the methane to a methanol precursor;
c) reacting and/or desorbing the methanol precursor from the catalyst material by treating with a gas or a liquid such as water, protic molecules, and/or CO;
wherein the steps mentioned above are executed in successive order, thereby applying a temperature in the range of 20 to 280°C, providing methane and the oxygen-containing gas at ambient pressure or at a pressure up to 250 bar, and using as catalyst material a transition or multi-metal loaded porous material. This process allows the safe and selective conversion of methane to methanol at high methanol yields and advantageous energy consumption. Major improvement in the present process is the use of low temperature, possibly in isothermal conditions and in all cases, significantly below the temperatures so far disclosed in the prior art. |
