Optimum catalytic process for alcohol fuels from syngas: Fourth quarterly technical progress report, October-December 1987

Technical Report · Fri Jan 29 04:00:00 EST 1988

OSTI ID:5298245

Research has been continued on the novel low pressure methanol homologation system. Recent results demonstrate that the ruthenium component serves to hydrogenate an acetaldehyde intermediate to ethanol. The acetaldehyde is formed in a rate and selectivity determining step from methanol by one of the essential catalyst components. Any future improvements in total ethanol selectivity or rate must therefore center around this component. With this idea in mind, new promoters and additives have been examined, but to date no improvements have been made. In our continuing investigations of the direct conversion of syngas to alcohols with homogeneous ruthenium catalysts, lithium iodide was found to be a better source of halide for promoting activity and selectivity to higher alcohols. It is also apparent that the concentrations of LiI and another of the catalyst additives are important factors in determining the activity and selectivity of a catalyst system. The C/sub 2//sup +/ alochol fraction produced in most of these experiments with the homogeneous ruthenium system is largely composed of ethanol. Alcohol mixtures with a higher C/sub 3//sup +/ content would be more desirable for use as motor fuel extenders. Recently, we attempted to increase the production of C/sub 3//sup +/ alcohols by using a certain catalyst additive. Although the results are preliminary, there is an indication that C/sub 3//sup +/ alcohol production can generally be increased. Process economics for a base case for producing fuel alcohols from natural gas and coal have been developed. The base case uses only existing commercially demonstrated technologies. The cost of producing fuel alcohols is estimated to be 105 centsgal starting with syngas from natural gas reforming, 108 centsgal with syngas from natural gas partial oxidation, and 149 centsgal from goal. Based on a conceptualized process the lowest cost at which fuel alcohols can be produced is about 70 centsgal. 9 figs., 12 tabs

• Research Organization: Union Carbide Corp., South Charleston, WV (USA). Solvents and Coatings Materials Div.
• DOE Contract Number: AC22-86PC90013
• OSTI ID: 5298245
• Report Number(s): DOE/PC/90013-T4; ON: DE88007457
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010408* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- C1 Processes-- (1987-)
090221 -- Alcohol Fuels-- Chemical Synthesis-- (1976-1989)
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
ADDITIVES
ALCOHOL FUELS
ALCOHOLS
ALKENES
CATALYSTS
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL GASIFICATION
DOCUMENT TYPES
ECONOMICS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
ETHANOL
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL ADDITIVES
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GASIFICATION
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGENATION
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
METALS
METHANOL
NATURAL GAS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PARTIAL OXIDATION PROCESSES
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PLATINUM METALS
PROGRESS REPORT
REACTION INTERMEDIATES
REFORMER PROCESSES
RUTHENIUM
SPECIFICITY
SYNTHESIS
SYNTHESIS GAS
SYNTHETIC FUELS
TESTING
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
TRANSITION ELEMENTS