Low-Temperature Transformation of Methane to Methanol on Pd1 O4 Single Sites Anchored on the Internal Surface of Microporous Silicate.

Direct conversion of methane to chemical feedstocks such as methanol under mild conditions is a challenging but ideal solution for utilization of methane. Pd1 O4 single-sites anchored on the internal surface of micropores of a microporous silicate exhibit high selectivity and activity in transforming CH4 to CH3 OH at 50-95 °C in aqueous phase through partial oxidation of CH4 with H2 O2 . The selectivity for methanol production remains at 86.4 %, while the activity for methanol production at 95 °C is about 2.78 molecules per Pd1 O4 site per second when 2.0 wt % CuO is used as a co-catalyst with the Pd1 O4 @ZSM-5. Thermodynamic calculations suggest that the reaction toward methanol production is highly favorable compared to formation of a byproduct, methyl peroxide.