In 2019 South Korean researchers found a way to convert the greenhouse gas methane into formaldehyde, a liquid chemical used as a raw material for bactericides, preservatives, resins and functional polymers, at more than twice the previous efficiency.
Their findings are published in the Journal of Catalysis.
In 1996 the installed capacity for the production of formaldehyde was estimated at 8.7 million tons per year, according to Wikipedia.
Here is the link to the promotional press release: https://www.asianscientist.com/2019/01/in-the-lab/vanadium-oxide-nanoparticle-catalyst-methane/
Here is the link to the journal publication: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0021951718303749?via%3Dihub
Here is the link to the Wikipedia page on formaldehyde: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Formaldehyde
Methane can be from either a renewable or non-renewable source. A biorefinery producing liquid chemicals from methane would be a particularly interesting development. Contact us if you want to discuss these ideas further.
