Process for recovery of pure components from product mixture of one step dimethyl ether synthesis reactor

Abstract

A process separates pure components from a product mixture produced by a one-step dimethyl ether synthesis reactor. The product mixture is scrubbed with pure dimethyl ether followed by scrubbing with aqueous methanol solvent in two absorption columns to reduce COlevel and to minimize methanol and dimethyl ether loss with the recovered unconverted synthetic gas. The pure water or aqueous methanol is mixed with the vapor stream of COseparation distillation. Dimethyl ether, methanol and water mixture are separated. A scheme for separation of methanol and water mixture minimizes the size, energy and cost of separation. The process can be cost-effective, energy-efficient, environment-friendly and readily-miniaturized.