Nonthermal plasma approach in direct methanol synthesis from CH/sub 4/

Direct methanol synthesis from CH/sub 4/ and O/sub 2/ has been experimentally studied using pulsed discharge plasma in concentric-cylinder-type reactors. The methanol production becomes efficient with an increase in the average electric field strength of the reactor. A combination of the pulsed discharge and catalysts was tested and was proved to be effective in increasing both the production and selectivity of methanol. In the present stage, about 2% of CH/sub 4/ can be converted into other hydrocarbons, and a methanol yield of around 0.5% and selectivity of 38% can be obtained when a catalyst of V/sub 2/O/sub 5/+SiO/sub 2/ is combined with the pulsed discharge plasma.