Partial Oxidation of Methane by Laser-initiated Chain Reaction

Abstract
Using N2O as a source of O(1D) by ArF excimer laser irradiation, an experimental work on partial oxidation of methane was performed at 200–350 °C and 300 or 600 Torr to find out methanol and several oxygen containing compounds with some C2–C3 hydrocarbons as products. Methane conversion and methanol selectivity increased in the presence of O2, indicating that a chain reaction was significantly promoted.