(7b) Shale Gas and the History of C1 Chemistry

The shale gas revolution has resulted in historically low prices for gas relative to oil on an energy content basis.    This drives new incentives for converting C1 (methane) into commodity chemicals and liquid fuels.   But enhanced opportunities in C1 chemistry have occurred before due to war, politics, and transport (stranded gas).  This talk will focus on a history of key developments in C1 chemistry including methanation and the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, hydroformylation, methanol synthesis and carbonylation chemistry, reductive and oxidative coupling of methane.   It will also present current challenges and opportunities in producing liquid fuels and chemicals from methane.