Kinetic aspects of methanol synthesis

Practically speaking, in order to achieve the simultaneous conversion of CO and COj to metbanoL one can also introduce the concept of carbon efficiency, defined as follows  

Experimental correlations are then made, such as those in Figs. 1.26 and 1.27, which furnish the following for effluents produced by steam reformiog  

Ul For a methane feedstock, the pseudo-equilibrium temperature at which a given carbon efiicxeocy can be obtained at a given pressure. 

The gains in selectivity are directly related to the actual thermal level The most important side reactions are  

The first two conversions are limited by reducing the CO2 content in the synthesis gas employed, and also, and above ail, by limiting the reaction temperature to 400 C. Below this temperature, the methanation rate remains low, or even negligible, on the catalysts employed. 

The kinetic equation which expresses the results of CO conversion to methanol is due to Natta, and is written  

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