Atmospheric pressure continuous flow methane oxidation to methanol and acetic acid using H2O2 over Au-Fe catalyst

An enormous value proposition exists when molecules like acetic acid and methanol are derived from natural gas. With abundant worldwide resources, methane to methanol (M2M) by partial oxidation or acetic acid through C-insertion is considered one of the catalysis's most enterprising chemical transformations. In this work, significant catalytic challenges successfully tackled are the continuous partial oxidation of methane to methanol and acetic acid at atmospheric pressure. In continuous flow and at atmospheric pressure, a modified silica-supported bimetallic (AuFeHS) catalyzed methane to methanol using H2O2 with an impressive yield of 224 mmol/gFe+Au. Co-feeding CO in the stream produces acetic acid, demonstrating a selectivity switch from methanol with an overall yield of 92 mmol/gFe+Au.