ELECTROCHEMICAL NATURAL GAS REDUCTION TO ALCOHOLS

THIS PROJECT IS BASED ON THE RECOGNITION THAT METHANE (CH4) IS OXIDIZED TO METHANOL (CH3OH) IN NATURE, IN THE PRESENCE OF METHYLOTROPHIC BACTERIA. THIS INVOLVES METHANE HYDROXYLATION IN THE PRESENCE OF OXYGEN (O2) AND A REDUCING AGENT. PHASE I IS STUDYING AN ELECTROCHEMICAL ANALOG OF THIS BACTERIAL PROCESS WHEREBY CH4/O2 MIXTURES ARE EXPECTED TO BECOME DIRECTLY CONVERTED TO CONDENSED OXYGENATES, UNDER REDUCING AMBIENT CONDITIONS. EXPERIMENTAL WORK IN PHASE I EXAMINES THE UTILITY OF GAS DIFFUSION ELECTRODES OPERATING UNDER AMBIENT CONDITIONS, INCORPORATING SPECIFIC ELECTROCATALYTIC AND CATALYTIC SITES FOR THE GENERATION OF INTERMEDIATES LEADING TO METHANE ACTIVATION AND SYNTHESIS OF CONDENSED SPECIES SUCH AS METHANOL.