Iron-catalyzed methane-methanol conversion

Mizuno et al. found that a water soluble potassium salt of di-iron-substituted silicotungstate, SiWto Fe(OH2) 203g catalyzes the conversion of methanol to methylformate (10.2%) > methanol (0.3%) > formic acid (0.2%) together with CO2 (16.6%). The work was attempted to demonstrate catalytic oxidation of methane with hydrogen peroxide in water. Interestingly, mono- and tri-iron-substituted silicotungstates is much less active and nonselective for the oxidation. The catalyst... 

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