ie8b01183_si_001.pdf (252.21 kB)
Conversion of Methane to Methanol on Copper Mordenite: Redox Mechanism of Isothermal and High-Temperature-Activation Procedures
journal contribution
posted on 2018-08-13, 00:00 authored by Amy J. Knorpp, Mark A. Newton, Ana B. Pinar, Jeroen A. van BokhovenIn
the search for a commercially viable process to convert methane
directly to methanol, the low-temperature isothermal process represents
a promising new reaction pathway, because of its easier operation
at lower temperatures than previously proposed processes with a high
activation temperature. Isothermal methane to methanol conversion
on copper-exchanged mordenite was examined by in situ XAS and compared
to the conventional high-temperature activation procedure. Despite
the copper remaining partially hydrated during the isothermal procedure,
methanol can form when elevated pressures are applied. By observing
the reduction of copper during reaction at elevated pressures, the
mechanism was found to be a two-electron reduction–oxidation
reaction for the isothermal procedure, as in the high-temperature
activation case.