Methanol was directly produced by the partial oxidation of methane with four-component mixed oxide catalysts. Four-component(Mo-Bi-Cr-Si) mixed oxide catalysts were prepared by the co-precipitation and sol-gel methods. The catalyst prepared by the sol-gel method showed about eleven times higher surface area than that prepared by the co-precipitation method. From the O2-TPD experiment of the prepared catalysts, it was proven that there exists two types of oxygen species, and the oxygen species that participates in the partial oxidation reaction is the lattice oxygen desorbing around 750℃. The optimum reaction condition for methanol production was 420°C, 50 bar, flow rate of 115 mL/min, and CH4/O2 ratio of 10/1.5, providing methane conversion and methanol selectivity of 3.2 and 26.7%, respectively.

페롭스카이트 촉매와 Mo, Bi를 기본으로 하는 복합 산화물 촉매를 이용하여 천연가스의 주성분인 메탄의 부분산화를 통하여 메탄올을 직접 합성하였다. 페롭스카이트(ABO₃) 촉매는 A 및 B site 성분을 변화시키면서 사과산법으로 제조하였으며, Mo, Bi를 기본으로 하는 3성분계 복합 산화물 촉매는 공침법으로 제조하여 반응특성을 살펴보았다. 페롭스카이트 촉매에서 A site에 알칼리 금속인 Sr을, B site에 전이금속인 Cr을 도입한 SrCrO₃ 촉매가 400℃에서 메탄올 선택도 11%로 가장 우수한 결과를 보였다. Mo, Bi를 기본으로 하는 3성분계 복합 산화물 촉매의 경우 모든 촉매에서 메탄 전환율에는 큰 차이를 보이지 않았으며, Cr을 첨가한 Mo-Bi-Cr 복합 산화물 촉매가 400℃에서 메탄올 선택도 15.3% 로 가장 우수한 결과를 나타냈다. 3성분계 복합 산화물 촉매에서 촉매의 활성과 메탄올 선택도는 촉매의 표면적에 정비례하였다.

The effects of La addition to Ni/CeO2 methane partial oxidation catalysts were investigated. Catalysts were prepared by the impregnation and urea methods. In the preparation of catalysts, La content was changed from 1 wt% to 3wt%. Catalysts that contain 2wt% La showed the highest methane conversion of about 80% and CO selectivity of 84% and H2 selectivity of 70%. This result may be stemmed from that, when La content is 2wt%, a fluorite oxide-type structure is well formed and carbon deposition is also decreased. Among the catalysts, 2.5wt% Ni/Ce(La)Ox showed the highest catalytic activity. From the experiment of changing reaction temperature with 2.5wt% Ni/Ce(La)Ox catalyst, it was found that the optimum reaction temperature is 750℃ and at this temperature methane conversion was about 90%, CO and H2 selectivities were 94 and 80%, respectively.

Methanol and formaldehyde were produced directly by the partial oxidation of methane over mixed oxide catalysts. The catalysts were composed of Mo and Bi with late-transition metals, such as Mn, Fe, and Co. The reaction was carried out at 450℃, 50 bar in a fixed-bed differential reactor. The prepared catalysts were characterized by O2-TPD and BET apparatus. Among the catalysts used, the catalyst composed of 1:1:2.5 molar ratio of Mo:Bi:Mn showed the best methane conversion and methanol selectivity. The change in ratio of methane to oxygen affected at the conversion and selectivity, and the most proper ratio was 10:1.5. Methane conversion, methanol and formaldehyde selectivities increased with the surface areas of the catalysts. From the O2-TPD result, it was found that the oxygen species responsible for this reaction might be the lattice oxygen species desorbed at high temperature around 800℃.

Methanol and formaldehyde were produced directly by the partial oxidation of methane. The catalysts used were mixed oxides of late-transition metals, such as Mn, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu. The reaction was carried out at 450℃, 50 bar in a fixed-bed differential reactor. The prepared catalysts were characterized by XRD, TPD and BET apparatus. Of the catalysts, A-Mn0.2-6, which contains 0.2 mole of Mn and calcined at 600℃, showed the best catalytic activity: 3.7% methane conversion, and 30 and 28% methanol and formaldehyde selectivities, respectively. The catalytic activity was changed with the content of Mn and the calcination temperature. Catalytic activity increased with the specific surface areas of the catalysts. With XRD, it was found that the structure of the catalysts are changed with calcination temperature. Through O2-TPD experiment, it was found that the catalysts showing good catalytic activity showed O2 desorption peak around 800℃.

Methanol was synthesized by homogeneous and catalytic reactions of partial oxidation of methane. The effect of pressure, temperature and oxygen concentration on methanol synthesis was investigated. The catalyst used was Bi-Cs-Mg-Cu-Mo mixed oxide. The partial oxidation reaction was carried out in a fixed bed reactor at 20~46 bar and 450~480℃ and oxygen concentration of 5.3~7.7mol%. The results were compared with results of homogeneous reaction performed at the same conditions. Methane conversions of the homogeneous and catalytic reactions increased with temperature. Methanol selectivity of the homogeneous reaction decreased with increasing temperature. However, the methanol selectivity of catalytic reaction increased with temperature. For both homogeneous and catalytic reactions, the methane conversions were around 5%. This may be due to the low oxygen concentration. Methanol selectivity of the catalytic reaction was higher than that of homogeneous one.