Hainan University recently learned that its Marine Clean Energy Innovation Team has developed a novel catalytic system that efficiently converts gaseous methane into high-value-added liquid methanol at a mild temperature of just 70°C. This system provides a proprietary technical solution for the local utilization of combustible ice resources in China and marks a substantial breakthrough in low-temperature catalysis. The results were recently published in the international academic journal Nature Communications.
Deng Peilin, an associate researcher at the College of Marine Science and Engineering at Hainan University, explained that combustible ice is one of the most commercially valuable strategic energy sources in the 21st century. Its main component, methane, is a high-density, low-carbon energy molecule. However, due to its extremely stable molecular structure, carbon-hydrogen bonds are difficult to break under mild conditions, and the conversion process has long faced technical bottlenecks. Traditional industrial methods require high temperatures exceeding 1000°C and high pressures of 50 atmospheres, which not only consume huge amounts of energy but also easily lead to excessive oxidation of methane to carbon dioxide, resulting in waste of resources and environmental pollution. Methanol, on the other hand, is a liquid at room temperature, making it easy to store and transport. It is not only an important basic chemical raw material, but it can also be used as a clean fuel in the fields of ships, automobiles, and other industries. How to achieve efficient and green conversion of methane to methanol under mild conditions is a recognized problem in the international field of catalytic chemistry.
To overcome this challenge, the Hainan University team focused on the catalyst. They discovered that by precisely “decorating” the catalyst’s crystal surface, they could efficiently “awaken” methane molecules even at relatively low temperatures, quickly releasing the resulting methanol and preventing further oxidation to carbon dioxide. The researchers also introduced gold atoms to manipulate the catalyst’s electronic structure and surface active sites, enabling simultaneous methane activation and methanol desorption at 70°C.
This technology achieved two key breakthroughs: first, it significantly reduced the high temperature required for traditional reactions to 70°C, significantly reducing energy consumption and operational risks; second, it achieved nearly 100% conversion selectivity, producing methanol with virtually zero byproducts, effectively avoiding resource waste. Deng Peilin stated that this new catalytic system offers advantages such as mild reaction conditions, sustained catalytic activity, and high product selectivity. In the future, it could be used in conjunction with offshore methane hydrate mining equipment to convert gaseous methane into liquid methanol at the mining site, minimizing the risk of methane leaks and reducing transportation costs. In addition to methane hydrate, this technology is also applicable to the clean utilization of a variety of methane-rich resources, including natural gas fields, shale gas, and associated gas, and holds broad application prospects.
Currently, this achievement is still in the laboratory pilot phase. The team is advancing reactor scale-up and catalyst stability testing. They plan to complete the construction of a pilot demonstration unit within the next three to five years and gradually advance towards industrialization.
“Our goal is to truly implement this core technology in Hainan and build a ‘land-sea integrated’ clean energy conversion demonstration base,” said Deng Peilin. Going forward, the research team will continue to promote the large-scale preparation of catalytic materials and their industrial transformation, striving to achieve Chinese leadership in the field of green methane catalysis and contribute “Hainan wisdom” and “Chinese solutions” to the global energy transition.
