title: Scientific basis for process and catalyst design in the selective oxidation of methane to formaldehyde.
abstract: The mechanism and kinetics of the gas-phase selective oxidation of methane to formaldehyde (MPO) are revised in the general context of catalytic oxidations. In agreement with ab initio calculations of the energy barrier for the activation of methane on transition metal oxide complexes, a formal Langmuir-Hinshelwood kinetic model is proposed which accounts for the "steady-state" conditions and activity-selectivity pattern of MPO catalysts, providing an original support to process design and catalyst development.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale e Ingegneria dei Materiali, Università degli Studi di Messina, Salita Sperone 31, I-98166 S. Agata, Italy. Francesco.Arena@unime.it
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arena
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parmaliana
mesh_terms: D002384:Catalysis; D015195:Drug Design; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000737:chemistry*; D007700:Kinetics; D008697:Methane / Q000737:chemistry*; D008956:Models, Chemical; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; D005557:Formaldehyde; D012822:Silicon Dioxide; D008697:Methane; D010100:Oxygen