Direct catalytic formation of acetic acid from CO2 and methane

The direct synthesis of acetic acid from methane and carbon dioxide was investigated. Diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) experiments showed the formation of an adsorbed acetate on both a 5% Pd/carbon and a 5% Pt/alumina catalyst when the catalyst was exposed to a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide at a temperature of about 400 °C. Temperature programmed reaction (TPR) experiments showed the formation of gas phase acetic acid from carbon dioxide and methane at about 400 °C over a 5% Pt/alumina catalyst.