From climate-warming pollutant to useful material

The catalyst has two components. The first, a mineral called a zeolite, converts methane to methanol. The second, a natural enzyme called alcohol oxidase, converts the methanol to formaldehyde. With the addition of urea, a nitrogen-containing molecule found in urine, the formaldehyde can be turned into a polymer used in particleboard, textiles, and other products. The researchers say this catalyst could act to seal cracks in pipes transporting natural gas, a common source of methane leakage. It could also be used to coat surfaces that are exposed to methane gas, producing polymers that could be collected for use in manufacturing. “Other systems operate at high temperature and high pressure,” says MIT postdoc Jimin Kim, lead author with Daniel Lundberg, PhD ’24, of a paper on the work. That takes money and energy. But, she says, “I think our system could be very cost-effective and scalable.” ... Read full article.