Liquid Sorbent Mixture for Methanol Synthesis Equilibrium Shift
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methanol synthesis methods face challenges in achieving high conversion rates due to equilibrium limitations, particularly when using heterogeneous catalyzed fixed-bed reactors, where condensable products accumulate in polar carrier phases, leading to equipment overloads and instability of ionic liquids at high temperatures and pressures.
Innovation Solution
A mixture of thermally stable organic salts with bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide anions and zwitterionic compounds is used as a liquid sorbent to enhance the solubility and stability of methanol and water, allowing for an equilibrium shift by dissolving these products, thereby increasing methanol production efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If heterogeneous catalyzed fixed-bed reactors are used for methanol synthesis, then the reaction can proceed with standard equipment, but the conversion rate is limited by equilibrium and requires recirculation of unreacted reactants, increasing equipment costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the product (methanol) from the reaction system by dissolving it in a polar carrier phase (ionic liquid or polar solvent) that is immiscible with the reaction medium. This continuous removal of product from the equilibrium system shifts the reaction equilibrium toward higher conversion rates, eliminating the need for complex recirculation equipment while increasing productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a polar carrier phase (ionic liquid or polar solvent) as an intermediary substance that selectively absorbs the product methanol from the reaction system. This intermediary facilitates continuous product removal without requiring direct contact between reactants and product separation systems, simplifying equipment requirements while maintaining high conversion rates.
2Productivity
If ionic liquids are used as carrier phases to remove synthesis products, then equilibrium can be shifted, but the ionic liquids become unstable at high temperatures above 200°C
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines ionic liquids with polar solvents to create a mixed carrier phase system. This combination allows the system to benefit from the high solubility and equilibrium-shifting properties of ionic liquids while the polar solvent component provides thermal stability at operating temperatures above 200°C, resolving the contradiction between productivity enhancement and thermal reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite carrier phases consisting of ionic liquids combined with polar solvents. This composite approach enables the system to achieve both the desired equilibrium shift (through ionic liquid properties) and thermal stability (through polar solvent properties), allowing operation at high temperatures without degradation of the carrier phase.
3Productivity
If polar carrier phases are used to accumulate synthesis products, then methanol production efficiency increases, but the carrier phase becomes saturated and requires separation and recycling, adding process complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the density difference between the polar carrier phase (containing dissolved methanol) and the reaction medium to enable simple gravitational separation. The polar carrier phase, being denser, naturally settles at the bottom of the reactor, allowing continuous product removal through a simple discharge system without complex mechanical separation equipment, thus maintaining high productivity while minimizing process complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The proposed mixture achieves a significant equilibrium shift, resulting in more than four times the methanol production compared to equilibrium conditions, with improved thermal stability and solubility properties, enabling efficient methanol synthesis under high temperature and pressure conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the synthesis product methanol, or methanol and water, exhibits an affinity for polar liquids, causing them to accumulate in such liquids
Implementation Method 2
the catalyst required for methanol synthesis
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a mixture for use as a liquid sorption agent in methanol synthesis and to a methanol synthesis process using said mixture. The mixture is formed from a component A) in the form of at least one bis (trifluormethylsulfonyl) imide salt with an organic cation, and a component B), consisting of a salt formed from one of the anions [PO4]3-~, [HPO4]2-, [H2PO4]-, [S04]2-, [HSO4]-, [ΝΟ3]-, [ΝΟ2]- or C1- and from one, two or three of the cations suitable for A), the number of cations corresponding to the absolute amount of the ionic charge of each anion (component B1), and of a bis (trifluormethylsulfonyl) imide salt with a metal cation (component B2) and/or of a zwitterionic compound (component B3). When liquid, the mixture has good methanol- and water-solvent properties and can be used as a liquid sorption agent, in particular in methanol synthesis. The present invention also relates to a process for carrying out methanol synthesis using the mixture.