Low temperature selective oxidation of methane to methanol using titania supported gold palladium copper catalysts

Abstract

The selective oxidation of methane to methanol has been studied using trimetallic AuPdCu/TiO₂ catalysts prepared by incipient wetness impregnation. They are able to catalyse the selective oxidation of methane to methanol under mild aqueous reaction conditions using H₂O₂ as the oxidant. When compared with bimetallic, Au–Pd/TiO₂ analogues, the new trimetallic catalysts present productivities which are up to 5 times greater under the same test conditions, and this is coupled with methanol selectivity of up to 83%. Characterisation shows that whilst Au–Pd is present as Au-core–Pd-shell nanoparticles, copper is present as either Cu or Cu₂O in <5 nm particles.