Method of producing formaldehyde directly from methane

• Main Authors: AZUMA, NAOTO, AOKI, KIYOFUMI, UENO, AKIFUMI, SUGINO, TOMOMI
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French; German
• Published: 30.01.2002
• Edition: 7
• Subjects: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS; CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOIDCHEMISTRY; CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY; ORGANIC CHEMISTRY; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS; TRANSPORTING

The present invention provides a silica-supported 12-molybdosilicic acid catalyst, comprising a silica carrier having a specific surface area of at least 500 m /g, and at least 10% by weight, based on the silica amount, of 12-molybdosilicic acid supported on the carrier and a method of producing formaldehyde directly from a mixed gas of methane and oxygen in the presence of the particular catalyst. Formaldehyde can be produced at a high yield in the present invention without requiring a reforming process of methane with water vapor that consumes a large amount of energy. In addition, attentions are also paid to the air pollution and water contamination problems in the present invention.