Direct Gas-Phase Conversion of Methane into Methanol with Water

The direct formation of methanol from methane and steam was confirmed over Cu ion-exchanged zeolites. Furthermore, the continuous production of methanol was accomplished by co-feeding methane and steam over Cu-zeolites. The methanol production rate in this continuous process was comparable to those reported previously in the stepwise process in which activation, methane reaction, and extraction of methanol were carried out separately.