A review of direct methane conversion to methanol by dielectric barrier discharge

The topics of conversion and utilization of methane are important issues to tackle global warming. Several technologies including plasma-based process were proposed to improve the process involving the conversion and utilization of methane. The direct conversion of methane to methanol in the presence of energetic species, i.e. ion, radical, electron, and excited molecules, has attracted many experts´ attention in recent years. In this review paper, the concepts and the applications of plasma to synthesize methanol from methane are briefly summarized. The recent advancements in direct conversion of methane are discussed as well as the synthesis of methanol from methane and oxygen, methane and carbon dioxide, methane and water, methane and nitrogen oxide by plasma. Various parameters of feed gas ratio, gas flow rate, applied voltage and inert gas on the conversion and reaction selectivity are also discussed but mainly of the methane-oxygen system.