TITLE: Liquid phase methanol LaPorte PDU: Modification, operation, and support studies. Task 3.4, Adsorbent evaluation for removal of catalyst poisons from synthesis gas.

INST.  AUTHOR: Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Allentown, PA;   Chem Systems, Inc., Tarrytown, NY.

LANGUAGE: English

PUB.  TYPE: Technical Report

PUB.  COUNTRY: United States

SOURCE: Department of Energy [DE],  28 Sep 90,  112p.

NTIS ORDER NO.: DE91008129INW  

ABSTRACT:

Operation of a methanol synthesis reactor in the liquid phase requires an efficient catalyst poison removal system. A number of commercially available adsorbents were screened for their ability to remove the following methanol catalyst poisons: Fe(CO)(sub 5), Ni(CO)(sub 4), COS, H(sub 2)S, and HCl. Adsorption isotherms were measured at various carrier gas pressures and two temperatures on several adsorbents, including active carbons, zeolites, alumina, silica gel, metal oxide impregnated active carbons, metal oxide promoted zinc oxide, metal oxide promoted alumina, and spent methanol catalyst. By monitoring the approach to equilibrium as a function of time, mass transfer coefficients for the adsorption of these trace impurities were also determined. From this adsorbent screening, the preferred adsorbent for removal of each catalyst poison was identified.  The equilibrium and kinetic adsorptive properties for each poison/adsorbent system were used to design a poison removal scheme. This design will be tested in a pilot unit using coal gas from a commercial gasifier. 5 refs., 30 figs., 3 tabs.

REPORT  NUMBER: DOE/PC/90005-T34

CONTRACT  NUMBER: AC22-87PC90005