Catalytic partial oxidation - Part I - Catalytic processes to convert methane: partial or total oxidation

The presence of large reserves of natural gas has stimulated research to utilize methane, its principal component, as an alternative energy source and to convert It to other fuels and industrially important chemicals. The reserves of natural gas in the world are estimated to be 1.4 x 10(14) Nm(3), while new gas fields are being discovered every year. Although this natural gas is available under pressure for piping and transport, extensive research efforts have been directed to develop gas-to-liquid (GTL) technology for the conversion of remote natural gas reserves into high-added-value liquid products, such as methanol and synthetic fuels, that can be more easily transported. A further incentive for natural gas utilization originates from environmental concerns that drive the search for cleaner energy sources. Catalytic combustion of methane offers an attractive alternative to gas-phase homogeneous combustion since it can stabilize flames at lower fuel-to-air ratios, thereby lowering flame temperatures and reducing NOx emission. Another alternative can be found in the conversion of natural gas into hydrogen, which can be used to generate electricity in fuel cells. Fuel cells have a much higher energy efficiency compared to current combustion-based power plants. Also, hydrogen is a much cleaner fuel than hydrocarbon feedstocks since the only product from hydrogen fuel cells is water.