Renewable methyl acetate production from dimethyl ether carbonylation in a fluidized bed reactor

Abstract

The carbonylation of bio-based dimethyl ether (DME) using ferrierite offers a renewable approach to methyl acetate (MA) production with a potential reduction in carbon emissions. This work showcases the feasibility of employing fluidized-bed reactors in this process, leveraging benefits such as effective solid mixing, uniform temperature distribution, and facile catalyst purge and makeup. Through parametric studies, the impact of operating conditions on the reaction kinetics and reactor hydrodynamics was elucidated. Both physical and chemical catalyst deactivation were found to be dependent on the fluidization regime. Numerical models based on experimental results enabled the prediction of reaction yield and selectivity in the process simulation and optimization. Preliminary techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) showed the potential for a 40% reduction in production costs and an 8% reduction in the global warming potential compared to the fossil-based benchmark. Overall, this study highlights the operation simplicity, cost competitiveness, and environmental benefit of MA production from DME carbonylation in a fluidized-bed reactor, providing insights for process scale-up and feedstock sourcing.