Catalysis and the Mechanism of Methane Conversion to Chemicals

This book introduces various types of reactions to produce chemicals by the direct conversion of methane from the point of view of mechanistic and functional aspects. The chemicals produced from methane are aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons such as propylene and benzene, and methanol. These chemicals are created by using homogeneous catalysts, heterogeneous catalysts such as zeolites, and biocatalysts such as enzymes. Various examples of methane conversion reactions that are discussed have been chosen to illustrate how heterogeneous and homogenous catalysts and biocatalysts and/or their reaction environments control the formation of highly energetic species from methane contributing to C-C and C-O bond formation.

Summarizes fundamental issues in methane conversion for novices in the field Illustrates examples of methane conversion without the boundary of chemical and biological catalysts Uses basic organic and physical chemistry to explain methane conversion reactions

Autorentext

Dr. Toshihide Baba received his Ph. D. from Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, in 1983. His research interests include catalytic chemistry and physical chemistry to reveal reaction mechanism and catalysis. He is currently Professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology. He published more than 200 articles and contributed to 5 books. He won the Japan Petroleum Institute Award in 2017.

Dr. Akimitsu Miyaji received his Ph. D. from Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan, in 2004. His research interests include biochemistry and bioengineering of methane monooxygenase, mechanism of molecular recognition and product selectivity of alkane monooxygenase, and oxidative stress due to the oxidation reaction with tyrosinase. He is currently Assistant Professor at Tokyo Institute of Technology. He published 75 articles and contributed to 2 books. He won the Japan Petroleum Institute Award for Encouragement of Research and Development in 2014. He has 13 years of teaching experience at Tokyo Institute of Technology, and 1 year at Shibaura Institute of Technology.

Inhalt
Overview of direct methane conversion to chemicals with CO and CC bonds.- Selective production of methanol from methane and molecular oxygen at atmospheric temperature and pressure using methane monooxygenases.- Heterogeneous and homogeneous catalytic partial oxidations of methane to methanol and its derivatives.- Application of biocatalysts for the production of methanol from methane.- CC bond formation via the condensation of methane in the presence or absence of oxygen.- Conversion of methane to aromatic hydrocarbons.- CC bond formation via carbocations in the methane conversion under non-oxidative conditions