Production of methanol via catalytic coal gasification
Methanol is produced by gasifying a carbonaceous feed material with steam in the presence of a carbon-alkali metal catalyst and added hydrogen and carbon monoxide at a temperature between about 1000/sup 0/ F and about 1500/sup 0/ F and at a pressure in excess of a 100 psia to produce a raw product gas comprising methane, ste carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrogen and hydrogen sulfide. The raw product gas is withdrawn from the gasifier and treated for the removal of steam, particulates, hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide to produce a treated gas containing primarily carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane. The treated gas is separated into a methane-rich gas stream and a gas stream containing primarily carbon monoxide and hydrogen. The methane-rich gas stream is passed to a steam reforming furnace wherein a portion of the methane is reacted with steam to produce hydrogen and carbon monoxide which is then passed from the steam reforming furnace into the gasifier. The gas stream containing primarily carbon monoxide and hydrogen is passed to a methanol synthesis reactor where the carbon monoxide is reacted with the hydrogen in the presence of a methanol synthesis catalyst to form methanol. Methanol product is recovered from the effluent exiting the methanol synthesis reactor thereby leaving a gas comprised of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, methane and carbon dioxide; and recycling at least a portion of this gas to the separation step of the process.
- Assignee:
- Exxon Research And Engineering Co
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4348486
- OSTI ID:
- 6519229
- Resource Relation:
- Patent File Date: Filed date 27 Aug 1981; Other Information: PAT-APPL-296713
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
COAL GASIFICATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
SEPARATION PROCESSES
METHANOL
SYNTHESIS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
BY-PRODUCTS
CARBON
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CATALYSTS
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
RECYCLING
ALCOHOLS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
ELEMENTS
GASIFICATION
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES
010500* - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Products & By-Products
090221 - Alcohol Fuels- Chemical Synthesis- (1976-1989)
010404 - Coal
Lignite
& Peat- Gasification