4 ms·
Selective here means it adds a single OH (alcohol group) to methane and not two, there, four. If you keep adding alcohols (otherwise known as oxidation), you w
by anoxor 4y ago
Selective here means it adds a single OH (alcohol group) to methane and not two, there, four.
If you keep adding alcohols (otherwise known as oxidation), you would end up with CO2 and waters - the same as burning methane.
There is a massive property boon going from methane (gas) to methanol (liquid and easy to transport) and not further
- feet 4y agoIs adding an OH to CH4 energetically equivalent for each successive OH added? Or at least close enough for the difference not to matter?
- adrian_b 4y agoThe first oxidation step, from an alkane, like methane, to an alcohol, like methanol, is always the most difficult, i.e. the least likely to happen spontaneously. The next oxidation steps, from an alcohol to an aldehyde (formaldehyde in this case), then to a carboxylic acid (formic acid in this case), then to carbon dioxide, are much easier to initiate. So doing the oxidation only up to methanol, without losses into more oxidized compounds, is not likely to happen in the absence of a very selective catalyst, like in this case.
- feet 4y agoThis makes sense, thank you for the in-depth answer!
- kurupt213 4y agoNo