How can you convert ethanoic acid into methane?

Answer 1

The simplest way would be to make the sodium salt by reacting it with NaOH. Then evaporate it to near dryness and continue heating it with a bunsen burner or similar heat source. The decarboxylation will produce methane. This is hazardous because the methane will catch fire with the flame or any spark so a gas collection apparatus of some sort must be used.

Another method would be to run the electrolysis of the sodium acetate reaction. Methane would be produced at the anode but would be contaminated with CO2 and some ethane. This method is known as the Kolbe electrolysis and is pretty slow.

Answer 2

Ethanoic acid can be converted into methane by first converting it into carbon monoxide and then reacting the carbon monoxide with hydrogen gas in the presence of a catalyst such as nickel. This process is known as methanation and results in the production of methane as the end product.