Efficient, self sufficient production of methanol from a methane source via oxidative bi-reforming

a technology of methanol and methane, which is applied in the direction of ether preparation, ether preparation, biofuels, etc., can solve the problems of significant amounts of carbon dioxide or other oxidation byproducts, and achieve the effects of significant cost savings, careful control conditions, and additional costly steps

a technology of methanol and methane, which is applied in the direction of ether preparation, ether preparation, biofuels, etc., can solve the problems of significant amounts of carbon dioxide or other oxidation byproducts, and achieve the effects of significant cost savings, careful control conditions, and additional costly steps

US20140100391A1Active Publication Date: 2014-04-10UNIV OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
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  • Efficient, self sufficient production of methanol from a methane source via oxidative bi-reforming

Examples

Experimental program
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example 1

[0037]One equivalent of methane is subjected to complete oxidation, followed by the bi-reforming process of the effluents with added three equivalents of methane in a suitable double walled flow reactor over metal / metal oxide catalysts of such as NiO at a temperature of about 800° C. to 1100° C., preferentially between 800-850° C. Suitable catalysts also include varied metal and metal oxides such as V, Ti, Ga, Mg, Cu, Ni, Mo, Bi, Fe, Mn, Co, Nb, Zr, or Sn used as single metal, metal oxides or their combination. They can be supported on suitable support, preferentially suitably large nanostructured surface such as fumed silica or alumina and are thermally activated under hydrogen. A preferred catalyst is NiO on fused alumina support. This process provides metgas, the desired mixture of CO and H2.

example 2

[0038]Adjusting the feed mixture to natural(shale) gas or other methane sources in Example 1 to give CO and H2 composition of 2:1 mole ratio (metgas) suitable for the production of methanol. The feed, when needed is also purified from excess CO2, H2S and other impurites.

example 3

[0039]A metgas mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide produced in approximately 2:1 ratio is converted to produce methanol under catalytic reaction conditions using usual copper and zinc oxides or related catalysts.

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Abstract

A method for producing methanol from a methane source such as methane from natural (shale) gas by first reacting one equivalent of methane with oxygen from the air to result in complete combustion to produce carbon dioxide and water in a molar ratio of 1:2; then conducting a bi-reforming process with a mixture of methane: carbon dioxide:water having a ratio of 3:1:2 to produce metgas, a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide having a molar ratio of 2:1 to 2.1:1; and finally converting metgas exclusively to methanol. The thus produced methanol can be dehydrated to form dimethyl ether, with water produced being recycled back to the bi-reforming process, if necessary.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]Although fossil fuels still have a wide application and high demand, they have limitations due to their finite reserves. Also, the combustion of fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide, which contributes to global warming.[0002]With the development of various large natural (shale) gas sources in many parts of the world and with the existence of other methane sources such as coal bed methane, methane hydrates, etc., the availability of extensive methane reserves is assured at least for this century. The conversion of natural (shale) gas into liquids, preferentially to methanol used for transportation fuels and source material for varied essential chemical products, is of great practical significance (Beyond Oil and Gas: The Methanol Economy, G. A. Olah, A. Goeppert and G. K. S. Prakash, 2nd Edition, Wiley-VCH, Weinheim, 2009). Currently, widely practiced steam reforming processes of methane generate syngas, CO:H2 with a ratio of 1:3. Additionally, dry reforming with carb...

Claims

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Application Information

Patent Timeline
10 Apr 2014
Publication
US20140100391A1
IPC
C07C41/09; C07C29/151
CPC
C07C29/1518; C07C41/09; Y02E50/18; C07C31/04; Y02E50/10
Inventors
OLAH, GEORGE A.; PRAKASH, G.K. SURYA