Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Conversion of methane into higher hydrocarbons on platinum

Abstract

CONSIDERABLE effort has been devoted to the conversion of methane into more useful compounds1. Oxygen has generally been used to draw methane into reaction, at the cost of losing some of the feedstock as carbon dioxide. Several catalytic routes exist for the formation of synthesis gas, (CO + H2)2,3, but attempts to synthesize higher hydrocarbons from methane have not yet resulted in a commercially viable process4. Here we report that exposure of platinum to pure methane, followed by hydrogenation, can result in appreciable conversion to aliphatic hydrocarbons with up to six carbon atoms. Optimization of this process could lead to a new route to industrially important alkanes.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Parkyns, N. D. Chem. in Brit. 841–844 (1990).

  2. Kirk, R. E. & Othmer, D. F. (eds) Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology 3rd Edn. Vol. 12, 952 (Wiley, New York, 1980).

  3. A. T. Ashcroft et al. Nature 344, 319–321 (1990).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Hutchings, G. J., Scurrell, M. S. & Woodhouse, J. R. Chem. Soc. Rev. 18, 251–283 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. O'Donohoe, C., Clarke, J. K. A. & Rooney, J. J. J. chem. Soc, Faraday Trans. I 76, 345–356 (1980).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Sarkany, A. J. chem. Soc. Faraday Trans. I 82, 103–108 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Zhou, Y., Henderson, M. A., Feng, W. M. & White, J. M. Surf. Sci. 224, 386–406 (1989).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Ali, A. K. M., Saleh, J. M. & Hikmat, N. A. J. Chem. Soc. Faraday Trans. I 83, 2391–2406 (1987).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Brady, R. C. & Pettit, R. J. Am. chem. Soc. 102, 6182–6184 (1980).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Pitchai, R. & Klier, K. Cat. Rev. Sci. Eng. 28, 13–88 (1986).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Yang, Q. Y., Johnson, A. D., Maynard, K. J. & Ceyer, S. T. J. Am. chem. Soc. 111, 8748–8749 (1989).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Bond, G. C. & Wells, P. B. Appl. Catal. 18, 221–224 (1985).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Belgued, M., Pareja, P., Amariglio, A. et al. Conversion of methane into higher hydrocarbons on platinum. Nature 352, 789–790 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/352789a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/352789a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing