Dimethyl ether production from methanol and/or syngas

摘要

Disclosed are methods for producing dimethyl ether (DME) from methanol and for producing DME directly from syngas, such as syngas from biomass. Also disclosed are apparatus for DME production. The disclosed processes generally function at higher temperatures with lower contact times and at lower pressures than conventional processes so as to produce higher DME yields than do conventional processes. Certain embodiments of the processes are carried out in reactors providing greater surface to volume ratios than the presently used DME reactors. Certain embodiments of the processes are carried out in systems comprising multiple microchannel reactors.

主权项

1. A process for producing dimethyl ether comprising:
reacting syngas in contact with a hybrid catalyst in a microchannel reactor at a temperature from about 200° C. to about 400° C. with a contact time of from about 25 milliseconds to less than about 1 second; and converting more than about 60% of CO in the syngas to dimethyl ether and methanol.