Patent ID: 6232352
Filing Date: 2001-05-15
Classification: B01J,C01B,C01C,C07C,F25J,Y02P

Abstract:
A method for manufacturing a product from carbon monoxide and methanol selected from the group consisting of acetic acid, acetic anhydride, methyl formate, methyl acetate and combinations thereof, comprising the steps of:operating at least one steam reformer to convert a hydrocarbon to a syngas stream containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide;separating all or part of the syngas stream into respective streams rich in carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and hydrogen;operating a methanol synthesis loop to convert a feed comprising (1) carbon dioxide and (2) a portion of the hydrogen-rich stream, to methanol;reacting at least a portion of the carbon monoxide-rich stream from the separation unit with the methanol from the methanol synthesis loop in essentially stoichiometric proportions to form the product.