Abstract Methane over‐oxidation by copper‐exchanged zeolites prevents realization of high‐yield catalytic conversion. However, there has been little description of the mechanism for methane over‐oxidation at the copper active sites of these zeolites. Using density functional theory (DFT) computations, we reported that tricopper [Cu3O3]2+active sites can over‐oxidize methane. However, the role of [Cu3O3]2+sites in methane‐to‐methanol conversion remains under debate. Here, we examine methane over‐oxidation by dicopper [Cu2O]2+and [Cu2O2]2+sites using DFT in zeolite mordenite (MOR). For [Cu2O2]2+, we considered the μ‐(η2:η2) peroxo‐, and bis(μ‐oxo) motifs. These sites were considered in the eight‐membered (8MR) ring of MOR. μ‐(η2:η2) peroxo sites are unstable relative to the bis(μ‐oxo) motif with a small interconversion barrier. Unlike [Cu2O]2+which is active for methane C−H activation, [Cu2O2]2+has a very large methane C−H activation barrier in the 8MR. Stabilization of methanol and methyl at unreacted dicopper sites however leads to over‐oxidation via sequential hydrogen atom abstraction steps. For methanol, these are initiated by abstraction of the CH3group, followed by OH and can proceed near 200 °C. Thus, for [Cu2O]2+and [Cu2O2]2+species, over‐oxidation is an inter‐site process. We discuss the implications of these findings for methanol selectivity, especially in comparison to the intra‐site process for [Cu3O3]2+sites and the role of Brønsted acid sites.
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The emission of low pH water from Gulf of Mexico seeps as revealed by δ 13 C–CO 2 and methane oxidation data
During investigations of aerobic methane oxidation, this study found that seafloor seeps emit low pH water alongside methane. This discovery was revealed through isotopic measurement and model experiments.
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- PAR ID:
- 10492456
- Publisher / Repository:
- Royal Society of Chemistry
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Environmental Science: Advances
- Volume:
- 2
- Issue:
- 11
- ISSN:
- 2754-7000
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 1600 to 1606
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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