Science and Engineers Guide

High demand for methanol(CH3OH ) was reported in past decade due to world consumption of methanol in production of Formaldehyde, MTBE, Acetic Acid, DMT, Methyl Methacrylate and Gasoline were produced in large scale to meet the demand in the market. Methanol in turn is being produced from synthesis gas which has the composition of Carbon monoxide and Hydrogen. With help of advanced catalyst the production yield and Conversion of the reaction was increased significantly. Most production plants have the capability of producing methanol with more 98% yield. The reaction is exothermic in nature and so based on the equilibrium constant the temperature of the reactor is maintained around 300 to 375 ^oC and pressure around 200 to 350 atm is required.

Methanol Production Process Flow Sheet

As per the flow sheet synthesis gas is compressed and preheated to the required temperatures of the reactor and fed to the reactor bottom, excess heat is recovered by the steam generators. Outlet gas is let downed to the 14 atm toward the depressurizing drum. The reactor used for this reaction is constructed with copper lined steel containing a catalyst which is blended with zinc, manganese oxide and chromium. The depressurized methanol will be in liquid state and it is treated with permanganate to remove impurities obtained during the side reaction on the catalyst surface. Mostly lower molecular weight dimethyl ether is obtained from the stripper top outlet and bottom high molecular weight methanol is obtained for storage and transport. A final purification step is carried out at methanol tower to remove water from methanol(ch3oh) because it is high solubility in water.