Continuous selective conversion of methane to methanol over a Cu-KFI zeolite catalyst using a water–O2 mixture as the oxygen source

Abstract

The continuous catalytic oxidation of methane to methanol on a Cu-KFI zeolite using water–O₂ mixture as the oxidant is reported. A high methanol space-time yield of 880.3 mmol mol_Cu⁻¹ h⁻¹ with 83% selectivity is achieved at 450 °C. Isotopic labelling experiments show that both H₂O and O₂ provide the oxygen source in this catalytic methane-to-methanol conversion reaction.