LONDON and MEDFORD/SOMERVILLE,Mass. – Methane in shale gas can be turned into hydrocarbon fuels using an innovative platinum and copper alloy catalyst, according to recent research led by UCL (University College London) and Tufts University.
Platinum or nickel are known to fracture the carbon-hydrogen bonds in methane found in shale gas to make hydrocarbon fuels and other useful chemicals. However, and this process causes ‘coking’ – the metal becomes coated with a carbon layer rendering it ineffective by blocking reactions from happening at the surface.
Source: tufts.edu