Themed collection Integrated approaches for methane activation

Kenichi Shimizu, Wataru Ueda & Hua Song introduce the Catalysis Science & Technology themed collection on Integrated approaches for methane activation.

Various reported active sites in zeolite-based catalysts categorized into three groups in terms of their origin have been overviewed from the viewpoints of their performance, structure, and catalysis.

Efficient and selective functionalization of methane is one of the most important tasks in chemistry in light of its utilization as a naturally abundant feedstock toward the development of a sustainable society.

Methane monooxygenases (MMOs) are potential biocatalysts for industrial methanol production from methane. We summarize recent structural and biochemical studies of pMMO and discuss the future directions to develop efficient and robust biocatalysts.

Green fuels are derived from renewable resources that can replace or reduce the use of fossil fuels, and they can help reduce carbon emissions and dependence on finite resources including oil and natural gas.

The molecular-sieve-3A material functioned as a good support for the indium liquid metal catalyst for the dehydrogenative conversion of methane (DCM) to ethane, ethylene, and H₂ with 100% selectivity at 873 K.

An integrated theoretical and experimental investigation reveals how the presence of water alters the activity of metal oxide catalysts in gas-phase activation and conversion of methane.

This study investigates the low temperature reforming of methane with CO₂ over mono-metallic (Pt/CeO₂ and Ni/CeO₂) and bi-metallic (Pt–Ni/CeO₂) solid solution catalysts prepared by using a one-pot solution-combustion method.

Highly regioselective hydroxylation of propane at the terminal position has been achieved using CYP153A33 with decoy molecules. This combination can exhibit the ability to hydroxylate ethane and methane.

A methane–benzene reaction was performed over Co/MFI prepared with an aqueous solution of Co(OAc)₂ and MFI zeolite.

Catalytic alkane hydroxylation by Murahashi's O₂/copper(II)/aldehyde system was revisited to obtain mechanistic details of the catalytic cycle including the reactive oxidant as well as the role of the copper catalyst.

The cubic and sheet-like AEI zeolites were prepared in the absence and presence of CTAB. Sheet-like Cu/AEI zeolite exhibited more stable and higher methanol formation rate than the cubic-shaped one due to the shortened straight channel length.

The selective oxidation of methane to methanol, using in situ generated H₂O₂ has been investigated using a series of TS-1 supported palladium-based catalysts, with the introduction of Au or Ni considerably improving catalytic performance.

The oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) was investigated using a catalyst with a core@shell structure or a physical mixture comprised of MgO and SiC or Fe₃O₄, which was thermally activated via conventional resistive heating or microwave heating.

Catalysts for oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) were designed through machine learning of a property of surface oxygen species on the basis of the knowledge that catalytic performance for the OCM is affected by catalyst surface oxygen species.

The reactivity, spectroscopic, and kinetic studies of the catalytic reactions showed that the catalytic activity is determined by the balance of the rates of the formation, reaction, and decomposition reactions of the reactive intermediate.

Methane and nitrogen were co-activated by MoC_x/Al₂O₃ catalysts to produce acetonitrile.

Monoclinic BiPO₄ nanoparticles selectively gave HCHO for the direct oxidation of CH₄ thorough the possible involvement of surface active oxygen species on BiPO₄ in the activation of CH₄.

A proton-type mordenite facilitates the reduction of hepta-valent Re species. The reduced Re species show a good catalytic activity toward the direct partial oxidation of CH₄ to CO and subsequent reforming reactions.

In situ measurements revealed that the Pt–CN species function not only as intermediates but also as inhibitors for low-temperature HCN synthesis.

Immobilised iron complex catalysts with hydrophobic reaction fields mimicking the active sites of enzymes constructed into the mesopores of SBA-15. Surface modification with a longer fluoroalkyl chain and Me₃Si group improves catalytic activity.

By examining various metal-containing polyoxometalate (POM) precursors and supports, it was found that catalysts prepared using Fe-containing POM precursors supported on SiO₂ with a high specific surface area were effective for CH₄ oxidation.

A ceramic hydrogen permeable membrane reactor for dry reforming of methane (DRM) enables both the reaction and separation processes to be carried out simultaneously, producing synthesis gas and pure hydrogen while mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.

The non-thermal plasma could effectively convert pure methane into gasoline-range hydrocarbons with limited coke formation over the SBA-15 catalyst.

Visible light illumination induced CH₄ oxidation over a WO₃ photoanode. The production of C₂H₆ implies the formation of methyl radicals through photoelectrochemical activation of methane.

Pt/AI₂O₃ converts CH₄ into C₂ hydrocarbons by H₂ co-feeding.

Unveiling current issues in the investigation of highly-active heterogeneous catalysts using machine learning engineering techniques was discussed in the case of oxidative coupling of methane with support vector regression and Bayesian optimization.

Biogas has been highlighted as a renewable energy and local source for syngas production via reforming techniques to combat global warming effects and energy sustainability.

Copper phosphates as active catalysts for methane oxidation with O₂ into formaldehyde were deposited on silica supports or dispersed with aluminum oxides in order to enhance their catalytic performance.

Pt supported on various metal oxides was examined for the activation of CH₄ with NO at low temperatures and atmospheric pressure.

Oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) is an exothermic reaction that results in the temperature rise towards the latter part of the reactor. This study reports the consequence of OCM product distribution after O₂ depletion at high temperatures.

Catalytic CH₄ oxidation activity of a μ-nitrido-bridged heterodimer of an iron phthalocyanine and an iron porphycene in an aqueous solution containing excess H₂O₂ was examined.