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[DonPalmer]

Energy research experts are constantly in search to find out every pollution free renewable energy resource that can replace the fossil fuels, as they are getting exhausted day by day. Researches conducted by two of the top universities in US have focused on methane, one among the main components of natural gas. Methane is highly useful as a fuel, if it is converted in to liquid form. This has become one of the much discussed news on renewable energy these days.

Methane is available in plenty and is one of the much sought after raw material and fuel for the preparation of various chemicals. This is mainly because methane is more efficient than oil and produce only very less environmental pollution. Methane can also be used as a substitute for petroleum based fuels.

The only trouble that can arise for the users of methane is the difficulty and expense in the transportation of the gas. This is mainly because methane is easily affected by the variation in temperature and pressure.

Scientists from US are now developing a new way to convert methane to methanol and other liquid forms so that it can be easily transported from one place to another. This will be extremely useful when the gas has to be imported from remote sites to far off places.

Methane contains high energy carbon-hydrogen bonds, where each carbon atom is bound to four hydrogen atoms. As methane hardly reacts with other substances it is burned a fuel. The burning breaks the carbon-hydrogen bonds and produces CO2 and water.

High temperature and tremendous amount of energy are required to convert methane to chemicals, including liquids which can be readily transported. There are catalysts which can turn methane to useful chemicals at lower temperatures, but most of them are too slow and the process is highly expensive. Hence the works have been progressing to get a cost effective way of finding out a catalyst that can transform methane in to methanol and other liquids.