Methanol from natural gas. Proven and new technologies.

The world methanol consumption has surpassed 25 million tons per annum and is still growing steadily, indicating an increasing importance of methanol in the bulk chemicals market. At present, methanol is produced in a two step process: steam reforming of a hydrocarbon feedstock, followed by synthesis gas conversion into methanol.

Single step methanol production by partial oxidation of methane is a promising new catalytic process providing new opportunities for natural gas utilization. To study the economic perspective of such a new process and to set targets for futher research, a process design study was carried out, based on literature data with respect to kinetics and yields. This study included investment and production cost estimates relative to those of existing plants.

The results prove that the new process is less economic, unless extremely selective catalysts are developed. Using the present data, the investment is of a similar level, while the variable costs are much higher due to the lower carbon efficiencies and the consumption of “expensive” oxygen.