Improved selectivity for partial oxidation of methane to methanol in the presence of nitrite ions and BiVO4 photocatalyst

Abstract

Nitrite ions are shown to have significant influence on the selectivity of the photocatalytic oxidation of methane to methanol. An almost complete inhibition of undesired CO₂ has been achieved with BiVO₄ in the presence of a low concentration of nitrite, which might act both as a UV filter and as a hydroxyl radical scavenger.