NO x -catalyzed partial oxidation of methane and ethane to formaldehyde by dioxygen

At 600 °C, NO_x catalyzes the partial oxidation of both methane and ethane by dioxygen to form formaldehyde. The yield of oxygenates from methane is over 11. The yield increases to over 16 when 0.7% of ethane is added to the gas mixture. The yield of oxygenates from ethane is over 24. A catalytic cycle involving NO₂ as the C–H activating species is proposed.