Study on the photo-electro-catalytic oxidation of methane

Emission control of methane from landfills has received considerable attentions in recent years. Photo-electro-catalytic oxidation of methane was carried out at the mode of continuous electrolysis and intermittent illumination with TiO₂-coated titanium mesh plate as pholocatalyst and electrode in combination with ionic liquid as electrolyte under UV light irradiation. The result showed that the rapid conversion of methane was achieved under ambient pressure and temperature through photocatalytic oxidation combining with electrolysis. Under the mode of intermittent illumination (on:off = 10 min : 10 min) and continuous electrolysis (II-CE), the highest oxidation rate of methane (280 mg/(m³•min)) was obtained. Under fixed off time and total illumination time, the oxidation quantity of methane linearly increased with the intermittent frequency. Photo-electro-catalytic oxidation of methane can be described by the first-order kinetics, and the apparent kinetic constant increased with the intermittent frequency.