Synthesis of dimethyl ether and alternative fuels in the liquid phase from coal-derived synthesis gas
As part of the DOE-sponsored contract Synthesis of Dimethyl Ether and Alternative Fuels in the Liquid Phase from Coal-Derived Syngas'' experimental evaluations of the one-step synthesis of alternative fuels were carried out. The objective of this work was to develop novel processes for converting coal-derived syngas to fuels or fuel additives. Building on a technology base acquired during the development of the Liquid Phase Methanol (LPMEOH) process, this work focused on the development of slurry reactor based processes. The experimental investigations, which involved bench-scale reactor studies, focused primarily on three areas: (1) One-step, slurry-phase syngas conversion to hydrocarbons or methanol/hydrocarbon mixtures using a mixture of methanol synthesis catalyst and methanol conversion catalyst in the same slurry reactor. (2) Slurry-phase conversion of syngas to mixed alcohols using various catalysts. (3) One-step, slurry-phase syngas conversion to mixed ethers using a mixture of mixed alcohols synthesis catalyst and dehydration catalyst in the same slurry reactor. The experimental results indicate that, of the three types of processes investigated, slurry phase conversion of syngas to mixed alcohols shows the most promise for further process development. Evaluations of various mixed alcohols catalysts show that a cesium-promoted Cu/ZnO/Al[sub 2]O[sub 3] methanol synthesis catalyst, developed in Air Products' laboratories, has the highest performance in terms of rate and selectivity for C[sub 2+]-alcohols. In fact, once-through conversion at industrially practical reaction conditions yielded a mixed alcohols product potentially suitable for direct gasoline blending. Moreover, an additional attractive aspect of this catalyst is its high selectivity for branched alcohols, potential precursors to iso-olefins for use in etherification.
- Research Organization:
- Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC22-90PC89865
- OSTI ID:
- 6765271
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/PC/89865-T7; ON: DE93013075
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Synthesis of dimethyl ether and alternative fuels in the liquid phase from coal-derived synthesis gas. Final technical report
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Related Subjects
ALCOHOLS
SYNTHESIS
ETHERS
HYDROCARBONS
METHANOL
SYNTHESIS GAS
CONVERSION
BENCH-SCALE EXPERIMENTS
CATALYSTS
CHEMICAL REACTORS
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
LIQUID PHASE METHANOL PROCESS
PROMOTERS
SLURRIES
SPECIFICITY
COAL LIQUEFACTION
DISPERSIONS
EVALUATION
FLUIDS
GASES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
LIQUEFACTION
MIXTURES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SUSPENSIONS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
010405* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Hydrogenation & Liquefaction
010404 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Gasification