【Frontiers in HaiChuan Chemical Technology】Hainan University is researching the efficient conversion of gaseous methane into high-value liquid methanol at room temperature

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The new catalytic system developed by the Marine Clean Energy Innovation Team at Hainan University enables the efficient conversion of gaseous methane into high-value liquid methanol under mild conditions of just 70 °C. This provides a technical solution with independent intellectual property rights for the local utilization of combustible ice resources in China, and it also marks a significant breakthrough for the country in the field of low-temperature catalysis. The relevant findings were recently published in the international academic journal Nature Communications. Deng Peilin, an associate researcher at the School of Marine Science and Engineering at Hainan University, explained that methane clathrates are one of the strategic energy sources with the greatest commercial potential for development in the 21st century. Their main component, methane, is a high-density, low-carbon energy molecule; however, due to its extremely stable molecular structure, the carbon-hydrogen bonds are difficult to break under mild conditions, which has led to technical challenges throughout the conversion process. Traditional industrial methods require operating at temperatures of over 1000 ℃ and pressures of 50 atmospheres, which not only results in high energy consumption but also tends to cause methane to be over-oxidized to carbon dioxide, leading to waste of resources and environmental pollution. Methanol is a liquid at room temperature, which makes it easy to store and transport. It serves as an important basic chemical raw material, and can also be used as a clean fuel in industries such as shipping and automobiles. How to achieve an efficient and green conversion of methane to methanol under mild conditions is a recognized challenge in the field of international catalysis. To overcome this challenge, the Hainan University team focused on catalysts as a solution. They found that by precisely \"modifying\" the catalyst’s crystal surfaces, it was possible to efficiently \"activate\" methane molecules even at lower temperatures, and to rapidly release the resulting methanol, preventing it from being further oxidized into carbon dioxide. The researchers also regulated the electronic structure and surface active sites of the catalyst by introducing gold atoms, enabling simultaneous methane activation and methanol desorption at 70 °C. This technology has achieved two key breakthroughs: first, it significantly reduces the high temperature required in traditional reactions to 70 ℃, thereby greatly reducing energy consumption and operational risks ； Secondly, it achieves a conversion selectivity of nearly 100%, with almost “zero by-products” in methanol production, thus effectively preventing waste of resources. Deng Peilin said that this new catalytic system offers advantages such as mild reaction conditions, sustained catalytic activity, and high product selectivity. In the future, it can be used in conjunction with equipment for extracting combustible ice at sea, enabling the on-site conversion of gaseous methane into liquid methanol. This approach not only helps to avoid the risk of methane leaks but also reduces transportation costs. In addition to methane clathrates, this technology is also applicable to the clean utilization of various methane-rich resources such as natural gas fields, shale gas, and associated gases, offering broad application prospects. At present, this achievement is still in the laboratory pilot stage; the team is working on scaling up the reactor and testing catalyst stability. They plan to establish a pilot-scale demonstration facility within the next three to five years, with the aim of progressing toward industrial implementation over time. “Our goal is to bring this core technology to practical use in Hainan, and to establish a demonstration base for clean energy conversion that integrates land and sea resources. ”Deng Peilin said that looking to the future, the research team will continue to promote the large-scale production of catalytic materials as well as their industrial application, striving to establish China’s leadership in the field of green methane catalysis and contributing \"Hainan’s wisdom\" and \"China’s solutions\" to the global energy transition.