Metallgesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft

Peter Konig

Hermann Gohna

Emil Supp

Friedrich-Wilhelm Moller

Methanol is catalytically produced from a synthesis gas containing hydrogen and carbon oxides on copper-containing catalysts at pressures in the range from 20 to 120 bar and temperatures in the range from 130.degree. to 350.degree. C. The synthesis gas is first of all passed through a first synthesis reactor, in which the catalyst is provided in tubes surrounded by water as a coolant which is boiling at an elevated pressure. From the first reactor a first mixture containing gases and methanol vapor is withdrawn and passed through a second synthesis reactor. In the second reactor the catalyst is cooled with synthesis gas.

Process of producing methanol

From a synthesis gas which contains hydrogen and carbon oxides, methanol is produced on copper-containing catalysts under pressures in the range from 20 to 20 bars and at temperatures in the range from 200 to 350.degree. C. The synthesis gas is passed through a first synthesis reactor, which consists of a shaft reactor and contains a fixed bed of a copper-containing catalyst. The reaction in the shaft reactor is carried out adiabatically and without a recycling of synthesis gas. Together with recycle gas, the gas mixture which has not been reacted in the first synthesis reactor is passed through a second synthesis reactor, which contains a copper-containing catalyst, which is disposed in tubes and is indirectly cooled through boiling water. 10 to 30% of the carbon oxides of the synthesis gas are reacted in the shaft reactor to form methanol.

Methanol is catalytically produced from a synthesis gas which contains H.sub.2, CO and CO.sub.2 in a synthesis reactor at temperatures from 220.degree. to 300.degree. C. and under a pressure in the range from 20 to 120 bars. A product mixture which contains methyl formate is withdrawn from the synthesis reactor and is cooled to temperatures in the range from 20.degree. to 60.degree. to provide a condensate which contains methanol, water and methylformate. A gas mixture which contains H.sub.2, CO and CO.sub.2 is formed at the same time. A fraction which comprises 10 to 100% by weight methyl formate is separated from the condensate and is admixed with the synthesis gas which is fed to the synthesis reactor.

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Frankfurt am Main, Germany

Peter Konig