Economically viable co-production of methanol and sulfuric acid via direct methane oxidation.

ABSTRACT: The direct oxidation of methane to methanol has been spotlighted research for decades, but has never been commercialized. This study introduces cost-effective process for co-producing methanol and sulfuric acid through a direct oxidation of methane. In the initial phase, methane oxidation forms methyl bisulfate (CH₃OSO₃H), then transformed into methyl trifluoroacetate (CF₃CO₂CH₃) via esterification, and hydrolyzed into methanol. This approach eliminates the need for energy-intensive separation of methyl bisulfate from sulfuric acid by replacing the former with methyl trifluoroacetate. Through the superstructure optimization, our sequential process reduces the levelized cost of methanol to nearly two-fold reduction from the current mark

SUBMITTER: Im J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10733281 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature