Partial Oxidation of Methane: The Role of the Gas Phase Reactions

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Abstract
There is considerable interest in laboratories around the world in developing processes for the direct conversion of methane to higher valued products. Direct routes to useful chemicals would avoid the energy intensive steam reforming step used in existing technology [l]. Methane, however, is rather an inert substance and, apart from its ready reaction with oxygen, undergoes few reactions, the reaction between methane and halogens, carried out photochemically [2,3] or thermally [4], being an exception. Whilst patents have been issued for utilization of the thermal reaction between methane and chlorine to produce ethane [5,6], environmental concerns might prevent the large-scale commercial development of a process involving chlorine.