Platform chemical methanol

Methane is a stable molecule and can typically be activated only at HT, e.g., above 650 °C in the steam reforming process. Recently, however. Spinner and Mustain (2012, 2013) have reported that methane could conceivably be activated in a room temperature carbonate fuel cell based on an AEM, and a novel catalyst that could produce the carbonate ion from O2 and CO2 at the cathode (Figure 15.33). The carbonate ion diffuses through the AEM and partially oxidizes methane at a NiO—Z1O2 composite anode catalyst to produce oxygenates such as formaldehyde and methanol with syngas. Such LT methane activation, if feasible, could allow the selective production of platform chemicals, rather than syngas, directly from natural gas. 

Next to the exploitation of the heating value, (bio) methane is an important platform chemical for the chemical industry. Methane is used as the basic chemical for the synthesis of various important substances like hydrogen, methanol, methyl halogenides (e.g., methyl chloride, chloroform), ethyne, carbon disulfide, and hydrocyanic acid. 

Methanol (CH3OH) is one of the most flexible commodity chemicals. The worldwide consumption of methanol is growing constantly and projected to increase by 2% from 2008 to 2013 [12]. It is used as an alternative fuel, fuel additive and platform chemical for various downstream products. It bums at lower temperature and has high octane rating and high heat of vaporization. COj conversion to methanol (Eq. (1)) is challenging due to the formation of... 

Methanol can be used as an H2 carrier, fuel, or platform chemical for the production of a wide range of chemicals (olefins, dimethyl ether, acetic acid, formaldehyde) (Huber et al., 2006 Spath and Dayton, 2003 Olah et al., 2011). Its synthesis is carried out at temperatures in the range of 220—300°C and pressures about 50—100 bar using a catalyst of Cu—ZnO supported on alumina (Wender, 1996 Olah et al., 2011). Methanol synthesis takes place through two different reactions (Reaction [xxvi] and [xxvii]) (Wender, 1996 Olah et al., 2011 Tjatjopoulos and Vasalos, 1998) ... 

SH-Ag clusters, 87 6-FeOOH, Co304,257 colloidal catalysts, 281 coordinatively unsaturated metal atoms, 141 ensembles, 150 methanol cross-over, 289 platforming, 140 volcano shaped curves, 150 chemical anchoring, 143 volcano-shaped curves, 141... 

Abstract The dimerization of 1,3-dienes (e.g. butadiene) with the addition of a protic nucleophile (e.g. methanol) yields 2,7-octadienyl ethers in the so-called telomerization reaction. This reaction is most efficiently catalyzed by homogeneous palladium complexes. The field has experienced a renaissance in recent years as many of the platform molecules that can be renewably obtained from biomass are well-suited to act as multifunctional nucleophiles in this reaction. In addition, the process adheres to many of the principles of green chemistry, given that the reaction is 100% atom efficient and produces little waste. The telomerization reaction thus provides a versatile route for the production of valuable bulk and specialty chemicals that are (at least partly) green and renewable. The use of various multifunctional substrates that can be obtained from biomass is covered in this review, as well as mechanistic aspects of the telomerization reaction. 

In 2009, worldwide production of methanol was around 40 million metric tons. Although this amount represents only 0.01% of the worldwide gasoline production, it is nearly equivalent to the total biodiesel and bioethanol production [11], From this number, it is clear that a large-scale replacement of gasoline by methanol as fuel would require an enormous increase of worldwide methanol synthesis capacities. Today, chemical intermediates dominate methanol consumption. Formaldehyde a platform molecule for the synthesis of polymer resins - is responsible for nearly half of the total demand. Acetic acid, MTBE, and methyl methacrylate - a monomer -constitute another 25% [7, 12]. Direct fuel and additive usage accounts for 15% of demand but is expected to rise. 

This was initiated by first choosing a simple test bed chemical reaction to evaluate and understand the functionality, flexibility and limitations of the microreactor platform. The reaction of acetic acid and methanol to form methyl ester was selected because the reaction was temperature sensitive and of minimal toxicity. This chemistry has been extensively studied in the author s laboratory previously by Raman spectroscopy in a typical batch reactor. The batch reactor results were a very useful foundation when trying to understand the reaction processes in the microreactor. The microreactor experiments were structured to study reaction response to reactor parameter changes (temperature and flow rate) using Raman spectroscopy. 

The offshore business does not have to address most of the above problems. For example, offshore platforms use various chemicals such as methanol and monoethylene glycol for hydrate removal. Although these chemicals are toxic and flammable, they do not compare to some of the chemicals found in a typical chemical plant or refinery. Moreover, the quantities used offshore are quite small as compared with a typical onshore facihty. Generally, the chemicals are suppUed in tote tanks that are offloaded from a supply boat and stored at a dedicated section of the deck. 

Some details of a major offshore rig spill fire were concisely reported in the July 2007 Beacon - Messages for Manufacturing Personnel as pubhshed by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. Operators were transferring flammable methanol from a portable tote tank to an offshore oil platform storage tank [5],... 

---