Removing Methane From Air by Bubbling Air Through Saltwater

Methane (CH4), a potent greenhouse gas with 25 times the thermal impact of carbon dioxide (CO?), contributes to about 30% of global warming since the Industrial Revolution. Developing an efficient and cost-effective method to remove methane from the atmosphere is crucial for achieving sustainability goals. The Stanford team has proposed a novel approach: Partial Oxidation of Methane (POM) to methanol, which not only mitigates emissions but also generates valuable chemical products.

This process involves forming methane-air microbubbles (20-40 ?m) in saltwater and applying an alternating electric field drive using a copper oxide foam electrode. Dissolved salts (KCl or NaCl at 3%) enhance methane solubility, enabling more effective reactions at the gas-water interface. By fine-tuning drive frequency and amplitude, methanol selectivity exceeds 90%, with minimal byproduct formation. The methane-to-methanol conversion yield reaches 57%, with a production rate of ~887 ?M h?¹.

This method offers an innovative solution for methane removal using seawater and presents opportunities for converting concentrated methane sources into value-added methanol, addressing both environmental and industrial needs.

Stage of Development: Prototype