Clariant says its long-term partnership with Air Liquide Engineering and Construction has resulted in a breakthrough in methanol synthesis: the MegaZonE technology. Based on Clariant’s MegaMax catalyst series, the method reportedly uses several layers of catalysts with different activity levels to optimize heat management and overall catalyst performance in the methanol synthesis reactor. The properties of each catalyst layer are tailored to the specific conditions along the reaction pathway, which results in a significantly longer catalyst lifetime (by up to two years) and an increased cumulative methanol production (up to 15%), according to the company. MegaZonE was reportedly applied successfully to two world-scale methanol plants in Asia this year.
MegaZonE enables increased efficiency of the methanol synthesis loop, thus, the loop can be operated at milder conditions, according to Clariant. Catalysts with moderate activity are loaded in hotter zones of the converter to prevent hotspots, while activity-enhanced catalysts are placed further down the reaction pathway to intensify reaction rates in the lower portion of the converter. Less thermal stress on catalysts will lead to longer catalyst lifetimes, says the company, while high activity in the bottom part of the reactor will increase reaction rates and reduce by-product formation by up to 10%.
The possibility of using different feed sources, such as stranded gas, unused syngas or CO2- rich gases, can drastically reduce the CO2 footprint of methanol producers, according to the company.
For more information, visit: www.clariant.com
