New catalyst for the manufacture of shale gas fuelslunes, 29 enero 2018 Methane in shale gas can be converted into hydrocarbon fuels using an innovative platinum and copper alloy catalyst, according to new research led by UCL (University College London) and Tufts University.It is known that platinum or nickel breaks the carbon-hydrogen bonds in the methane found in shale gas to produce hydrocarbon fuels and other useful chemicals. However, this process causes «coke»: the metal is covered with a layer of carbon that makes it ineffective, blocking the reactions that occur on the surface.The new alloy catalyst is resistant to coking, so it retains its activity and requires less energy to break the bonds than other materials.
