METHANOL
Group 5
Maha El-Deeb
Khashayar Moez
William Read
Michael Teklu
METHANOL
Known as methyl alcohol or
wood alcohol
● M.P. and B.P. are 175 K and
338 K respectively
● Highly toxic if ingested
●
Image Source: http://igpenergy.com/products/methanol-overview/methanol
METHANOL AS A TRANSPORTATION FUEL
Efficient combustion due to high octane rating
Smaller emissions than other fuels
low reactivity to prevent ground level smog
Can’t be used 100% due to corrosive nature in fuel
lines
● 85% Methanol 15% gasoline used as a blend
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WASTEWATER TREATMENT
● Mainly used for denitrification .
● Using C 5 H 7 NO 2 as an empirical formula for bacteria , a general
denitrification reaction could be the following:
N O 3 - + 1 . 0 8 C H 3 O H + 0 . 24 H 2 C O 3 → 0 . 0 5 6 C 5 H 7 N O 2 + 0 . 47 N 2 + H C O
H 2O .
3
-
+ 1.68
● Denitrification tends to raise the PH, however it is usually a ver y
small ef fect that PH control is of ten not needed.
● Denitrification is hindered by the presence of oxygen thus it
needs to be carried out in oxygen free environment.
● Used in over 200 wastewater treatment plants in the United
States
o Blue Plains (D.C.) exceeds EPA standards using methanol.
[1] http://www.methanol.org/getdoc/74efb789 -8095-4313-be84-38f6ae0df142/Exponent-Methanol-Denitrification-Report-July2012.aspx
FUEL CELLS
● Ideal Hydrogen Carrier because its the densest
stable liquid with respect to hydrogen
● Used in either DMFC (Direct Methanol Fuel Cells)
or RMFC (Reformed Methanol Fuel Cells)
● Waste products only consist of carbon dioxide and
water
METHANOL IN THE FEEDSTOCK
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Used as a Key component in several chemical processes
Often by first changing methanol into formaldehyde, acetic
acid and olefin
PRODUCTS MADE FROM METHANOL
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Plastics, Paints, resins
Adhesives and solvents
Magnetic film
Carpeting and insulation
Refrigerants
windshield washer fluid
METHANOL → OLEFIN
MTO PROCESS
Methanol→ Olefins→ Plastics
[1] http://www.cchem.berkeley.edu/molsim/teaching/fall2009/mto/background.html
●
Ethylene & Propylene
○ polymers/plastics
●
At low T, methanol reacts to form
DME.
●
At high T, olefins are produced and the
selectivity for DME decreases.
●
Acidic Zeolite Catalysts
○ crucial to MTO process
○ too slow and economically
feasible
METHANOL → FORMALDEHYDE
● Industrial uses for formaldehyde:
o Urea-formaldehyde: a resin used in adhesives
o Melamine resin: used in kitchen utensils,
whiteboards, and coating for particle boards
o Polyoxymethylene: high performance parts like
small gear wheels, ball bearings
METHANOL → FORMALDEHYDE
●
Two common industrial
practices involve the Formox
Process and a Silver catalyzed
process.
●
The Formox process involves
oxidation of Methanol at about
573 K, and uses Metal oxide
blend catalyst consisting of Iron
and Molybdenum.
●
The Silver catalyzed process is
held at a higher temperature
(873 K), in which the
dehydrogenation of Methanol is
the primary source of
Formaldehyde, however, a side
reaction of the oxidation of
unreacted Methanol also yields
Formaldehyde.
METHANOL → ACETIC ACID
● Acetic acid is used to make cellulose acetate for
photographic film [1]
● Also used to make polyvinyl acetate for wood glue
● Food additive E260 used to regulate acidity [2]
● Vinegar is dilute acetic acid
[1] http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/101663/cellulose -acetate
[2] http://www.laleva.cc/food/enumbers/E251 -300.html
METHANOL → ACETIC ACID
MONSANTO PROCESS
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Catalytic carbonylation of CH3OH
1
4
2
3
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsanto_process
METHANOL → ACETIC ACID
CATALY TIC CATIVA PROCESS
●
Developed by BP Chemicals (supplanted Monsanto Process)
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Iridium active catalyst
○
uses less water in the reaction mixture
○
reduces the number of drying columns necessary
○
decreases formation of by-products (propionic acid)
○
suppresses the water gas shift reaction.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cativa_process