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US 11,697,629 B2Granted
System and process for methanol recovery
AssigneeSabic Global Technologies B.V.
InventorsAli Al-Hammad, Ijaz Chaudary
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Certain embodiments are directed to methods of purifying methanol comprising fractionating a feed source into methanol and heavy alcohol or fusel alcohol fractions and further recovering methanol from the fusel alcohol fraction.
Claims12
A method of purifying methanol, comprising:
- passing a feed stream comprising crude methanol through a first column;
- distributing a first purified methanol fraction to a top portion of the first column;
- distributing a first water fraction to a bottom portion of the first column;
- distributing a first waste alcohol fraction to a middle portion of the first column;
- withdrawing the first waste alcohol fraction from the middle portion of the first column and passing the first waste alcohol fraction through a second column;
- distributing a second purified methanol fraction to a top portion of the second column;
- distributing a second water fraction to a bottom portion of the second column;
- distributing a second waste alcohol fraction to a middle portion of the second column;
- withdrawing the second purified methanol fraction from the top portion of the second column;
- withdrawing the first water fraction from the first column;
- withdrawing the second water fraction from the second column;
- combining the first water fraction withdrawn from the first column with the second water fraction withdrawn from the second column;
- passing a portion of the second waste alcohol fraction through a third column;
- condensing and recovering all of the first purified methanol fraction;
- withdrawing the second waste alcohol fraction;
- and
- recycling a portion of the second waste alcohol fraction back to the first column;
- wherein a pressure within the first column and the second column is about 1 bar to 2 bar;
- wherein a temperature within the first column and the second column is 120° C. to 130° C.;
- wherein a source of the feed stream is a product of a methanol production process;
- and
- wherein the methanol production process comprises synthesizing methanol by contacting synthesis gas with a catalyst.
19 more elements
A method of purifying methanol, comprising:
- passing a feed stream comprising crude methanol through a first column;
- distributing a first purified methanol fraction to a top portion of the first column;
- distributing a first water fraction to a bottom portion of the first column;
- distributing a first waste alcohol fraction to a middle portion of the first column;
- withdrawing the first waste alcohol fraction from the middle portion of the first column and passing the first waste alcohol fraction through a second column;
- distributing a second purified methanol fraction to a top portion of the second column;
- distributing a second water fraction to a bottom portion of the second column;
- distributing a second waste alcohol fraction to a middle portion of the second column;
- withdrawing the second purified methanol fraction from the top portion of the second column;
- withdrawing the first water fraction from the first column;
- withdrawing the second water fraction from the second column;
- combining the first water fraction withdrawn from the first column with the second water fraction withdrawn from the second column;
- condensing and recovering the first purified methanol fraction;
- withdrawing the second waste alcohol fraction;
- passing a portion of the second waste alcohol fraction through a third column;
- and
- recycling a portion of the second waste alcohol fraction back to the first column;
- wherein a temperature within the first column and the second column is 120° C. to 130° C.;
- wherein a source of the feed stream is a product of a methanol production process;
- wherein the methanol production process comprises synthesizing methanol by contacting synthesis gas with a catalyst;
- and
- wherein the catalyst comprises aluminum.
19 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.