Direct activation of methane
AssigneeKing Abdullah University of Science and Technology
InventorsJean-Marie BASSET, Miao SUN, Valerie CAPS, Jeremie PELLETIER, Edy ABOU-HAMAD
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Heteropolyacids (HPAs) can activate methane at ambient temperature (e.g., 20° C.) and atmospheric pressure, and transform methane to acetic acid, in the absence of any noble metal such as Pd). The HPAs can be, for example, those with Keggin structure: H4SiW12O40, H3PW12O40, H4SiMo12O40, or H3PMo12O40, can be when supported on silica.
Claims12
A method for converting methane to acetic acid comprising contacting methane with a heteropolyacid.
The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein conversion takes place at ambient temperature.
The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein conversion takes place at a pressure no greater than 30 bar.
The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein conversion takes place at atmospheric pressure.
The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the heteropolyacid is substantially free of noble metals.
The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising heating the heteropolyacid after contacting, thereby releasing acetic acid.
The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the heteropolyacid includes H4SiW12O40, H3PW12O40, H4SiMo12O40, or H3PMo12O40.
The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the heteropolyacid is associated with a solid support.
The method of any of the preceding claims, wherein the solid support includes a silicon oxide.
The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising separating the acetic acid from the heteropolyacid.
The method of any of the preceding claims, further comprising contacting the heteropolyacid with an oxidant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.