摘要 |
An integrated process for making methanol, acetic acid, and a product from an associated process is disclosed. Syngas ( 120 ) is produced by combined steam reforming ( 109 ) and autothermal reforming ( 118 ) of natural gas ( 102 ) where a portion ( 112 ) of the natural gas bypasses the steam reformer ( 109 ) and is blended with the steam reformer effluent for supply to the autothermal reformer (ATR) ( 118 ) with CO2 recycle ( 110 ). A portion of the syngas is fed to CO2 removal ( 122 ) to obtain the recycle CO2 and cold box ( 130 ) to obtain a hydrogen stream ( 131 ) and a CO stream ( 135 ). The remaining syngas, hydrogen stream ( 131 ) and CO2 from an associated process are fed to methanol synthesis ( 140 ), which produces methanol and a purge stream ( 124 ) supplied to the CO2 removal unit. The methanol is supplied to an acetic acid unit ( 13 ) 6 with the CO ( 135 ) to make acetic acid, which in turn is supplied to a VAM synthesis unit ( 148 ). Oxygen for both the ATR and VAM synthesis can be supplied by a common air separation unit ( 116 ), and utilities such as steam generation can further integrate the process.
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