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Northwestern Chemists Create Eco-Friendly Methanol from Natural Gas

4/21/2026

Summary

Story summary

Northwestern University chemists have developed a plasma-based method to convert natural gas into methanol.
The process bypasses extreme heat and pressure, reducing energy use and carbon dioxide emissions.
The technique uses high-voltage electricity to generate plasma, producing methanol, ethylene, and hydrogen in a single step.
If scaled, smaller facilities could convert methane from leaky sources into transportable fuels, reducing environmental impact.

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Story summary

Northwestern University chemists have developed a plasma-based method to convert natural gas into methanol.
The process bypasses extreme heat and pressure, reducing energy use and carbon dioxide emissions.
The technique uses high-voltage electricity to generate plasma, producing methanol, ethylene, and hydrogen in a single step.
If scaled, smaller facilities could convert methane from leaky sources into transportable fuels, reducing environmental impact.