A team of researchers from Stanford University and the University of Leuven in Belgium has come up with a rather exciting pathway for methane conversion to methanol.
They use a process that uses crystals known as iron zeolites which are known to convert natural gas to methanol at room temperature. When methane is infused into porous iron zeolites, methanol is rapidly produced at room temperature with no additional heat or energy required. By comparison, the conventional industrial process for making methanol from methane requires temperatures of 1000°C (1832°F) and extreme high pressure.
Not clear what had stopped others from trying this earlier. Sounds exciting, but very early days for something like this.
https://scitechdaily.com/scientists-turn-harmful-methane-into-methanol-at-room-temperature/
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