# US 10,308,576 B2 · Method for methanol synthesis

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- Number: US 10,308,576 B2
- Document ID: US10308576B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/569,527
- Filed: 2016-05-10
- Published: 2018-10-25
- Granted: 2019-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2015-05-11
- Assignees: Haldor Topsoe A/S
- Applicants: Haldor Topsøe A/S
- Inventors: Per Juul Dahl; Hassan Modarresi; Max Thorhauge
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10308576B2

## CPC

- C07C 29/1518: {one step being the formation of initial mixture of carbon oxides and hydrogen for synthesis}
- B01D 3/06: Flash distillation
- B01L 3/06: Crystallising dishes
- C07C 31/04: Methanol
- B01D 2257/70: Organic compounds not provided for in groups B01D2257/00 - B01D2257/602
- C01B 3/12: by reaction of water vapour with carbon monoxide
- C01B 2203/061: Methanol production
- C01B 2203/1223: Methanol
- Y02P 20/52: using catalysts, e.g. selective catalysts
- C07C: ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
- B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28)
- B01L: CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE
- C01B: NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; {METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C}
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

In a process for methanol production from synthesis gas, which comprises the steps of providing a make-up gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, in which the content of carbon dioxide is less than 0.1 mole %, mixing the make-up gas with a hydrogen-rich recycle gas and passing the gas mixture to a methanol synthesis reactor, optionally via a sulfur guard, and subjecting the effluent from the synthesis reactor to a separation step, thereby providing crude methanol and the hydrogen-rich recycle gas, the customary addition of carbon dioxide to the make-up gas is replaced by addition of water in an amount of 0.1 to 5 mole %. This way, a CO2 compressor is saved, and the amount of poisonous sulfur in the make-up gas is markedly reduced.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A process for methanol production from synthesis gas, said process comprising the following steps:
providing a make-up gas containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide, in which the content of carbon dioxide is less than 0.1 mole %,
mixing the make-up gas with a hydrogen-rich recycle gas and passing the gas mixture to a methanol synthesis reactor, optionally via a sulfur guard, and
subjecting the effluent from the synthesis reactor to a separation step, thereby providing crude methanol and the hydrogen-rich recycle gas,
wherein the customary addition of carbon dioxide to the make-up gas is replaced by addition of water to the make-up gas in an amount to obtain a water content of 0.1 to 5 mole % in the make-up gas which is mixed with the hydrogen-rich recycle gas and passed to the methanol synthesis reactor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Process according to claim 1, wherein the amount of added water corresponds to a content of 0.5 to 2.5 mole % in the make-up gas.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

Process according to claim 2, wherein the amount of added water corresponds to a content of 0.8 to 1.2 mole % in the make-up gas.