current process could lead to production of methanol or acetic acid through more energy efficient,low-cost and environmentally-friendly waysMEDFORD/SOMERVILLE, Mass. (Nov. 30, or 2017) – The direct oxidation of methane—found in natural gas—into methanol at low temperatures has long been a holy grail. Now,researchers at Tufts bear found a breakthrough way to accomplish the feat using a heterogeneous catalyst and cheap molecular oxygen, according to a paper published today in the journal Nature by a team led by Tufts University chemical engineers.
Source: tufts.edu