PROCESS FOR THE SYNTHESIS OF A METHANOL/DIMETHYL ETHER MIXTURE FROM SYNTHESIS GAS

摘要

An improved process for the production of a methanol and dimethyl ether mixture rich in DME from essentially stoichiometrically balanced synthesis gas by the novel combination of synthesis steps of: (a) passing a stream of synthesis gas through a cooled reactor containing a catalyst active in methanol formation from synthesis gas, forming an effluent stream enriched in methanol; (b) bringing the effluent from step (a) in contact with a catalyst active in dehydration of methanol, forming a synthesis gas stream further enriched in DME; (c) withdrawing the enriched synthesis gas stream from step (b) and separating the stream into a DME/methanol product mixture rich in DME and a partly converted synthesis gas stream; and (d) recycling a predetermined amount of the partly converted synthesis gas stream to the make-up stream of synthesis gas, forming the synthesis gas stream of step (a),