Comparatively high yield methanol production from gas phase partial oxidation of methane

Gas phase partial oxidation of methane to methanol has been carried out in a specially designed reactor. A comparatively high yield of methanol (ca. 7-8%, methanol selectivity of 60% at methane conversion 13%) was obtained over a quite wide temperature range of more than 40degreesC at 5.0 MPa and CH4/O-2/N-2 = 100/10/10 (ml/min). The effects of the total flow rate, CH4/O-2 ratio and pressure were examined and the superiority of the new reactor is discussed. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.