Abstract: Research development of methanol synthesis reaction process both abroad and home has been introduced in this article. It includes: progress in direct conversion of methane to methanol in liquid phase, unsteady-state in fixed bed reactor process under flow reversal mode, fluidized-bed process, membrane reaction, carbon dioxide hydrogenation, super critical synthesize methanol reactor, advance in direct conversion of methane to methanol etc. And merits and defects of each one have been briefly reviewed. The importance of research on methanol synthesize process has been put forward in order to lower production cost of methanol equipment in our country and boost up international competing ability.

Key words: methane, methanol, synthesis process, development