| Abstract: | Methane is the main constituent of natural gas, coal-bed gas, landfill gas and methane hydrate resources. These resources may be used more efficiently as clean fuels or as chemical feedstocks if methane can be effectively transformed into liquid fuels or chemicals. However, methane only possesses C-H bonds and is a very stable organic molecule hard to functionalize. The C-H activation, particularly the selective functionalization of C-H bonds in saturated hydrocarbons, remains a difficult challenge in chemistry. The present technology for chemical utilization of methane involves the steam reforming of methane to synthesis gas and the subsequent transformation of synthesis gas to methanol or hydrocarbon fuels via methanol synthesis or Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. However, the steam reforming of methane is a high-cost process. The development of more efficient and economical processes for methane transformation is a dream of all chemists and chemical engineers. I think that this is also one of the most important themes of the Journal of Natural Gas Chemistry. |
