Production of methanol via catalytic coal gasification

Patent · Tue Sep 07 04:00:00 EDT 1982

OSTI ID:6519229

Calvin, W J; Goldstein, S S; Marshall, H A

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 The raw product gas is withdrawn from the gasifier and treated for the removal of steam, particulates, hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide to produce a treated gas containing primarily carbon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
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT
010404 -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Gasification
010500* -- Coal
Lignite
& Peat-- Products & By-Products
090221 -- Alcohol Fuels-- Chemical Synthesis-- (1976-1989)
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
ALCOHOLS
ALKALI METAL COMPOUNDS
BY-PRODUCTS
CARBON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CARBONACEOUS MATERIALS
CATALYSTS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COAL GASIFICATION
ELEMENTS
GASIFICATION
HYDROGEN
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
HYDROXY COMPOUNDS
MATERIALS
METHANOL
NONMETALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
RECYCLING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SYNTHESIS
THERMOCHEMICAL PROCESSES