Synthesis of dimethyl ether and alternative fuels in the liquid phase from coal-derived syngas; Quarterly technical progress report No. 3, 1 July--30 September 1990
Contract objectives are: development of a one-step liquid phase dimethyl ether/methanol process; and investigation of the potential of liquid phase synthesis of alternative fuels from coal-derived synthesis gas. Definition of Preferred Catalyst System was completed after several commercial methanol catalysts and dehydration catalysts were tested. BASF S3-86 and Catapal gamma alumina is the preferred catalyst system of choice. Process Variable Scans on the Preferred Catalyst System was started with Shell gas. Data were obtained at various pressures (750 to 1400 psig), temperatures (250 to 280{degrees}C), and space velocities (5000 to 9000 sl/kg-hr). Increase in system pressure seems to have a very significant benefit to both DME and methanol formation. Both Texaco and Shell gases were evaluated. A ``stoichiometric`` feed composition (50% CO, 50% H{sub 2}) that yields maximum DME productivity at equilibrium was evaluated with a fresh batch of the optimum catalyst system. Productivities with the ``stoichiometric`` gas were much higher compared to Shell or Texaco gas. Following that test, Dow gas was evaluated (41% CO, 41% H{sub 2}, 16% CO{sub 2} and 2% N{sub 2}) using the same catalyst to study the effect of CO{sub 2}. Three DME/MEOH (1--4% DME) mixtures were evaluated by SWRI for their fuel properties. Results indicate that, with small amounts of DME added, significant improvements in both flash point and RVP are possible over the properties of LaPorte MEOH. the slurry-phase dehydration of alcohols to ethers was investigated by feeding 10 mol% mixed alcohols in N{sub 2} over an alumina catalyst suspended in mineral oil. Two alcohol mixture compositions were chosen for this study. One mixture contained methanol, ethanol, and 1-propanol in proportions representative of those in IFP Substifuel, while the other mixture contained methanol, ethanol, and isobutanol in proportions representative of those in Lurgi Octamix. 21 figs., 13 tabs.
- Research Organization:
- Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC22-90PC89865
- OSTI ID:
- 721560
- Report Number(s):
- DOE/PC/89865-3; ON: TI92020081
- Resource Relation:
- Other Information: PBD: 25 Jan 1991
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Development of alternative fuels from coal derived syngas. Topical report: Task 2.2, Demonstration of a one-step slurry-phase process for the production of dimethyl ether/methanol mixtures at the LaPorte Alternative Fuels Development Unit
Synthesis of dimethyl ether and alternative fuels in the liquid phase from coal-derived synthesis gas
Related Subjects
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
LIQUID PHASE METHANOL PROCESS
CATALYSTS
ALCOHOLS
DEHYDRATION
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
PROGRESS REPORT
ETHERS
SYNTHETIC FUELS
SYNTHESIS GAS
PRESSURE DEPENDENCE
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON DIOXIDE
HYDROGEN
NITROGEN
COMBUSTION PROPERTIES
SLURRIES
ETHANOL
BUTANOLS
HYDROCARBONS
IRON
NICKEL
CARBONYLS
CHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
PROPANOLS