title: Biocatalytic conversion of methane to methanol as a key step for development of methane-based biorefineries.
abstract: Methane is considered as a next-generation carbon feedstock owing to the vast reserves of natural and shale gas. Methane can be converted to methanol by various methods, which in turn can be used as a starting chemical for the production of value-added chemicals using existing chemical conversion processes. Methane monooxygenase is the key enzyme that catalyzes the addition of oxygen to methane. Methanotrophic bacteria can transform methane to methanol by inhibiting methanol dehydrogenase. In this paper, we review the recent progress made on the biocatalytic conversion of methane to methanol as a key step for methane-based refinery systems and discuss future prospects for this technology.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyung Hee University, Gyeonggi-do 446-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In Yeub
authors.initials: IY
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Seung Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yoo Seong
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Si Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jeong Geol
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Na
authors.forename: In Seop
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Choongik
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyun Cheol
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yong Hwan
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Eun Yeol
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D056804:Biofuels; D001711:Biotransformation; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D000432:Methanol / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010105:Oxygenases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D010105:Oxygenases; C021555:methane monooxygenase; D008697:Methane; D000432:Methanol