Methanol production by bi-reforming

Abstract

Population growth and emerging economies have as consequence increasing energy demands associated with fossil fuel depletion and environmental impacts. A new philosophy emerges: the concept of green chemistry. Carbon dioxide, a well-known greenhouse gas, is a source for the production of fine chemicals and fuels such as methanol. It appears in abundance due to anthropogenic human activities. Nowadays, methanol is typically produced from synthesis-gas which requires conventional fossil fuels; however, the availability of these fuels is limited. As an alternative, the vent streams of steam reforming units, which are rich in carbon dioxide and steam, can be used together with methane (natural gas) in a bi-reforming process for methanol synthesis. The essential idea is that carbon dioxide and water are recycled like in a synthetic photosynthesis process.