Methane to methanol catalyst could end gas flaring

Gas flare on an oil well

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Process could cut carbon emissions at remote oil fields but devil is in the detail

A new way to turn methane into methanol using only water could help to significantly cut carbon emissions by ending gas flaring at oil fields and create a useful chemical feedstock at the same time. The details remain uncertain, however, and the researchers admit that far more work is required to establish the process’ industrial viability.