CONTINUOUS GAS PHASE CATALYTIC CONVERSION OF LOW CONCENTRATION BIOGAS TO METHANOL

Lu Zhiheng; Xie Xuanlan; Li Wenzhi

doi:10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2025-0142

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Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica ›› 2026, Vol. 47 ›› Issue (4) : 467-477. DOI: 10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2025-0142

CONTINUOUS GAS PHASE CATALYTIC CONVERSION OF LOW CONCENTRATION BIOGAS TO METHANOL

Lu Zhiheng¹, Xie Xuanlan¹, Li Wenzhi²

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Abstract

A series of copper-based zeolite catalysts （xCu/MOR） were prepared by impregnation method, and the performance of catalytic partial oxidation of biogas to methanol was investigated under continuous gas-phase conditions with water as oxidant. The results show that the methanol yield at 350 ℃ shows a volcano trend with the increase of copper loading, in which the 2Cu/MOR catalyst can achieve a high methanol yield of 67.3 μmol/（g·h）; further optimization of the reaction temperature results in a high methanol yield of up to 142.5 μmol/（g·h） for the 2Cu/MOR catalyst at 400 ℃. In addition, catalyst characterization using X-ray diffraction, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, UV-diffuse reflectance visible spectroscopy, methane programmed warming desorption, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy show that the copper element in the copper-based zeolite catalysts is uniformly dispersed, and the 2Cu/MOR catalysts that demonstrated excellent activity have more isolated divalent copper active species. During the reaction process, methane is adsorbed and activated on the isolated divalent copper sites, and the formed methoxy intermediate reactes with the hydroxyl group produced by hydrolysis to form methanol.

Key words

biomass / biogas / methane / methanol / catalyst / mordenite

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Lu Zhiheng, Xie Xuanlan, Li Wenzhi. CONTINUOUS GAS PHASE CATALYTIC CONVERSION OF LOW CONCENTRATION BIOGAS TO METHANOL[J]. Acta Energiae Solaris Sinica. 2026, 47(4): 467-477 https://doi.org/10.19912/j.0254-0096.tynxb.2025-0142

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