Developing Low-Cost Catalysts to Use Methane, a Major Greenhouse Gas, as Fuel

Professor Sangyeop Lee's Team at Yonsei University

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-su] A low-cost, high-efficiency catalyst capable of converting methane, the main component of greenhouse gases causing global warming, into eco-friendly fuel methanol has been developed.

The National Research Foundation of Korea announced on the 23rd that a research team led by Professor Lee Sang-yeop of Yonsei University developed a single-atom active catalyst using the principle of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) that mimics the active site of a natural enzyme capable of directly converting methane into methanol.

Methane is the main component of greenhouse gases causing global warming, but it can be converted into methanol and used as an energy source. The problem is that it requires very high temperature and pressure, resulting in high costs and power consumption.

The research team developed a methane conversion enzyme-mimicking catalyst that imitates the biological structure of pMMO (particulate Methane MonoOxygenase), an enzyme in nature that converts methane into methanol.

Regarding this research achievement, the team stated, “It is expected to be utilized in connection with by-product gas utilization and carbon resource strategies,” and added, “Through continuous research, it is anticipated to contribute not only to the advancement of the chemical industry but also to the reduction of domestic greenhouse gases by linking to the development of commercial technology for shale gas and technology transfer.”

This research result was published on August 3rd in the international journal in the field of chemical engineering, the Chemical Engineering Journal.

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