Methanol as intermediate

Methanol as an energy carrier and motor fuel has been discussed for decades [144] [194] [420], lately as fuel for fuel cells. Methanol may play an increasing role for S5mfuels alone, via dimethylether directly or via zeolites to gasoline or as an agent for trans-esterfication of fatty oils into biodiesel. 

So far, methanol has been used primarily for petrochemical purposes giving a higher A(P (refer to Section 1.1). Methanol is converted directly into formaldehyde. It is used as a reactant with CO for acetic acid and potentially for methyl formate and dimethyl carbonate [338], which might be used as a gasoline additive. Methanol is also an active alkylation agent in reactions with aromatics. It is one of the reactants for MTBE banned in many countries. 

Dimethylether (DME) can easily be made from methanol by dehydration [527] [529] or in an integrated methanol/DME s mthesis [170] (see below) (refer to Section 2.6.4) and it may play a role in the energy sector as a replacement for LNG for gas turbines or for LPG as domestic fuel. DME can also be used as a pollution-free diesel substitute in existing diesel engines. This would, however, require a special infrastructure for supply of DME. 

Gasoline can be made via DME in the MTG process [531] or in an integrated methanol/DME/gasoline loop in the TIGAS process [492] (refer to Section 2.6.4). 

If such units are built, there may be potential for an integration with GTE plants. 

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Haldor Topsee DME Natural gas, naphtha, fuel oil Low cost/high efficiency conversion of hydrocarbons directly to DME without isolation of purified methanol as intermediate NA NA... 

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