Assessment of LPDME Process: CO-rich and H{sub 2} rich syngas

Book · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 UTC 1994

OSTI ID:51935

Tartamella, T L; Lee, S ^[1]; Kulik, C J ^[2]

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1. Univ. of Akron, OH (United States)
2. Electric Power Research Inst., Palo Alto, CA (United States)

A novel, single stage process for the synthesis of dimethyl ether (DMEE) from syngas in the liquid phase has been developed (LPDME). The process involves the production of methanol as an intermediate in the production of DMEE. To accomplish this, a dual catalyst system is slurried in mineral oil using a mechanically agitated slurry reactor. The catalyst system consists of Cu/ZnO/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} for the synthesis of methanol and {gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} for the subsequent dehydration of methanol to DME. The coproduction of DME and methanol using a dual catalyst system in the liquid phase reduces the chemical equilibrium limitations normally incurred in methanol production alone. As a result, higher per-pass conversion, enhanced reactor productivity and prolonged catalyst life are encountered over liquid phase methanol synthesis. Experimental investigation involves the kinetics of the process, effect of type of syngas on equilibrium conversion, and productivity comparison with the LPMeOH{trademark}. A particular emphasis is placed on the comparison of LPDME process results between coal derived CO-rich feed syngas and natural gas derived H{sub 2}-rich feed syngas.

• OSTI ID: 51935
• Report Number(s): CONF-940930--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
03 NATURAL GAS
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
CHEMICAL REACTION YIELD
COAL GASIFICATION
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COPPER
ETHERS
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
LIQUID PHASE METHANOL PROCESS
METHANOL
NATURAL GAS
SYNTHESIS GAS
ZINC OXIDES