Photocatalytic selective oxidation of methanol to methyl formate in gas phase over titanium(IV) oxide in a flow-type reactor

Photocatalytic oxidation of methanol in air over titanium(IV) oxide particles having a large surface area of 120 m2 g−1 using a flow-type reactor at room temperature yielded methyl formate with a high level of selectivity (91 mol%) without catalyst deactivation due to deposition of intermediate(s). The conversion of methanol increased with elevation of the reaction temperature up to 523 K maintaining high selectivity.