Carbon monoxide-rich syngas

Abubackar, H.N., Veiga, M.C., Kennes, C., 2011. Biological conversion of carbon monoxide rich syngas or waste gases to bioethanol. Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining 5 (1),... 

The process begins with a gasification process that converts coal into carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Part of this gas is sent to a water-gas shift reactor to increase its hydrogen content. The purified syngas is then cryogenically separated into a carbon monoxide feed for the acetic anhydride plant and a hydrogen-rich stream for the synthesis of methanol. 

MRG [Methane rich gas] A catalytic steam-reforming system, similar to the classic syngas reaction of steam with a hydrocarbon mixture, but yielding hydrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide in different proportions. The system is thermodynamically balanced,... 

Using the catalyst system known from the Monsanto process, Dumas et at. have been able to direct the reaction towards ethanol formation using syngas mixtures extremely rich in hydrogen [87]. As is shown in Table XII, no acetic acid and only minor amounts of acetates are formed at an H3/CO ratio of 60. Ethanol and acetaldehyde aie the main products along with considerable amounts of methyl ethyl ether. Unfortunately, the Dumas c/ at. based the yields and conversion on carbon monoxide and not on methanol. This makes the data of this interesting process difficult to compare with those of other catalyst systems. 

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