Recently, the Team of Animal Wastes Utilization as Energy and Pollution Control at the Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs has made new progress in the high-value conversion of methane. The team proposed a novel strategy based on amorphous-phase interfacial engineering to regulate radical reaction pathways, achieving highly selective conversion of methane into green oxygenated liquid products such as methanol under ambient conditions.

Methane is the main component of biogas and an important hydrocarbon resource. Efficiently converting methane in biogas into high-value liquid chemicals such as green methanol and formaldehyde is of great significance for enhancing the value of biogas utilization. However, methane is chemically inert and difficult to activate, and it is prone to over-oxidation into carbon dioxide during reactions. To address these challenges, the research team designed a novel composite catalytic system composed of amorphous and crystalline semiconductors, enabling effective control over the reaction process.

The study shows that under room temperature and light irradiation, with only water and oxygen serving as oxidants, the system can convert methane into high-value liquid chemicals such as green methanol and formaldehyde. The catalytic activity outperforms most reported systems, achieving a selectivity of over 98%. This work provides a new technological pathway for producing green high-value chemicals from biogas methane, and offers strong support for advancing high-value biogas utilization, promoting the recycling of agricultural waste resources, and enhancing carbon sequestration and value addition in the context of carbon neutrality.