Methane is a very important fuel and is the main component of natural gas, accounting for about 87%. Methane is colorless and odorless in a standard pressure room temperature environment; the special taste of domestic natural gas is an artificial odor added for safety, usually using methyl mercaptan or ethanethiol. In an atmospheric pressure environment, the boiling point of methane is −161 °C. The gas content in the air is very flammable as long as it exceeds 5% to 15%. Liquefied methane does not burn unless it is in a high pressure environment (usually 4 to 5 atmospheres). Methane pyrolysis can be used to obtain carbon black, which is used as an additive for pigments, inks, paints and rubber. Methane is widely distributed in nature and is one of the main components of natural gas, biogas and pit gas. It can be used as a fuel and as a raw material for the production of hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon black, acetylene, hydrocyanic acid and formaldehyde. Methane is used as a standard fuel for heat value testing of water heaters and gas stoves. Production of standard gas for flammable gas alarms, calibration gas. It can also be used as a carbon source for gas phase chemical deposition of amorphous silicon films. And methane is used as a raw material for the production of pharmaceutical and chemical synthesis.
In addition to fuel, it is widely used in the synthesis of ammonia, urea and carbon black, and can also be used to produce methanol, hydrogen, acetylene, ethylene, formaldehyde, carbon disulfide, nitromethane, hydrocyanic acid and 1,4-butanediol. Methane chlorination can obtain mono-, di-, trichloromethane and carbon tetrachloride
a Water heater industry
Methane is used as a standard fuel for water heater and gas furnace calorific value test
b Printing industry
CH4=C+2H2 (Isolated air enhances heat generation carbon black)
The main uses of carbon black in the industry are: the production of inks, paints and black coatings. Another use is to add carbon black to the rubber to make the tire, which can enhance the wear resistance and extend its service life.
C Solar industry
Methane can be used as a carbon source for carbon dioxide, vapor phase chemical deposition of amorphous silicon film
