Abstract
Experimental study on direct synthesis of DME (dimethyl ether) has been conducted using tubular reactor. The synthesis of DME was performed with two commercial catalysts, ie methanol synthesis catalyst (M151, Cu-based) and methanol dehydration catalyst (γAl2O3). A mixture of H2, CO, and N2 was used as a model for synthesis gas. Gas flow rate was set at 20 mL/min (5 bar and 240oC). The reaction held at: pressure of 5 bar and a temperature of 240°C. This experiment was conducted by arranging a series of two types of catalysts in a fixed bed reactor. The methanol synthesis catalyst was placed in the upstream to ensure the reaction of methanol formation, then proceed with dehydration of methanol to DME. The objective of this experiment was to find out the best dual catalyst composition to produce a high concentration of DME. The experiment has shown that the best combination of methanol catalyst to dehydration catalyst was a mixture of 20% methanol catalyst (ratio 1/4). CO conversion was 62% and the product ratio of DME/methanol was 40%.
Highlights
Dimethyl ether (DME) is an environmentally friendly fuel that is being widely considered as an alternative fuel to replace petroleum fuels
The challenge in this study is to find the right combination to be able to handle the DME synthesis process at low pressure
The reactor consists of 15 cm stainless steel (SS316, 1.5 cm O.D), in where catalysts were placed for direct synthesis of DME
Summary
Dimethyl ether (DME) is an environmentally friendly fuel that is being widely considered as an alternative fuel to replace petroleum fuels. Government of Indonesia has been stated that DME will be used as blending material of LPG to suppress LPG imports (General Plan of National Energy in Indonesia, RUEN 2017). In line with RUEN 2017, the objective of current research is to develop a process of converting biomass into DME/Methanol. Synthesis gas production through biomass gasification is expected to provide an adequate H2/CO ratio for DME synthesis. The experiment focuses on the development of catalyst for the direct synthesis of DME from syngas. Direct synthesis is carried out at pressures above 20 bar [2], but this experiment has been done of direct synthesis of DME at 5 bar. The challenge in this study is to find the right combination to be able to handle the DME synthesis process at low pressure
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have