Absorption Enhanced Methanol Synthesis in a Trickle Bed Reactor over Cu/Zn/Al₂O₃ Catalyst

Abstract

Methanol synthesis in a trickle bed reactor with tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TEGDME) as the liquid phase over a Cu/Zn/Al 2 O 3 catalyst was investigated. The pressure was kept constant at 5.0 MPa, while the temperature ranged from 230 ℃ to 260 ℃ and the mass space velocity varied between 294 L·Kg-1·h-1 and 1655 L·Kg-1·h-1. The effects of temperature and space velocity on CO conversion and methanol productivity were studied. Methanol synthesis processes in trickle bed with the TEGDME and paraffin oil as liquid phase were compared with the fixed bed process. The results indicated that the optimal temperature was approximately 240 ℃ . When the space velocity was increased, the CO conversion decreased while the methanol productivity increased. The liquid introduced can help to keep the reactor nearly isothermal. For methanol synthesis in trickle-bed reactor, TEGDME was better than paraffin oil. Effect of TEGDME on the reaction was twofold. On one hand, it absorbs the methanol and speeds up the reaction. On the other hand, it also increases the mass transfer resistance and hinders the reaction.