By Alimat Aliyeva

American scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have developed a groundbreaking new catalyst that converts methane into polymers.

This discovery holds promise for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is produced by methanogen bacteria that thrive in landfills, swamps, and other environments where biomass decomposes. Agriculture is the primary source of methane, and the gas is also produced as a by-product of the transportation, storage, and combustion of natural gas. Methane is responsible for about 15% of the global temperature rise, making its reduction a key target for climate action.

At the molecular level, methane consists of one carbon atom bonded to four hydrogen atoms. Theoretically, this simple molecule could serve as a valuable building block for creating useful products like polymers. However, converting methane into other compounds has proven challenging because high temperatures and pressures are typically required to make it react with other molecules.

To address this, the MIT team developed a two-component catalyst combining zeolite and the natural enzyme alcohol oxidase. Zeolites, which are inexpensive, clay-like minerals, are widely used in various industrial processes. Alcohol oxidase, found in plants, fungi, and microbes, is responsible for oxidizing alcohols.

The hybrid catalyst performs a two-step reaction: first, the zeolite converts methane into methanol, and then the alcohol oxidase enzyme further converts methanol into formaldehyde. The process also generates hydrogen peroxide, which is cycled back into the zeolite to provide an oxygen source for further methane conversion.

Remarkably, this series of reactions occurs at room temperature and does not require high pressure, significantly reducing energy consumption compared to traditional methods of methane conversion.

According to the researchers, the resulting formaldehyde can then be combined with urea to produce materials such as chipboard, textiles, and other industrial products. This innovative process not only has the potential to mitigate methane emissions but also offers a sustainable pathway for producing valuable materials from a commonly available resource.

This breakthrough could pave the way for more efficient, energy-saving methods of converting methane into useful compounds, contributing to both environmental sustainability and industrial innovation.