Selective Oxidation of Methane to Methanol via In Situ H₂O₂ Synthesis

The selective oxidation of methane to methanol, using H₂O₂ generated in situ from the elements, has been investigated using a series of ZSM-5-supported AuPd catalysts of varying elemental composition, prepared via a deposition precipitation protocol. The alloying of Pd with Au was found to offer significantly improved efficacy, compared to that observed over monometallic analogues. Complementary studies into catalytic performance toward the direct synthesis and subsequent degradation of H₂O₂, under idealized conditions, indicate that methane oxidation efficacy is not directly related to H₂O₂ production rates, and it is considered that the known ability of Au to promote the release of reactive oxygen species is the underlying cause for the improved performance of the bimetallic catalysts.