Process Simulation and Environmental Aspects of Dimethyl Ether Production from Digestate-Derived Syngas

The production of dimethyl ether from renewables or waste is a promising strategy to push towards a sustainable energy transition of alternative eco-friendly diesel fuel. In this work, we simulate the synthesis of dimethyl ether from a syngas (a mixture of CO, CO2 and H2) produced from gasification of digestate. In particular, a thermodynamic analysis was performed to individuate the best process conditions and syngas conditioning processes to maximize yield to dimethyl etehr (DME). Process simulation was carried out by ChemCAD software, and it was particularly focused on the effect of process conditions of both water gas shift and CO2 absorption by Selexol® on the syngas composition, with a direct influence on DME productivity. The final best flowsheet and the best process conditions were evaluated in terms of CO2 equivalent emissions. Results show direct DME synthesis global yield was higher without the WGS section and with a carbon capture equal to 85%. The final environmental impact was found equal to −113 kgCO2/GJ, demonstrating that DME synthesis from digestate may be considered as a suitable strategy for carbon dioxide recycling.

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Thermodynamic modeling of CO2 absorption in aqueous solutions of N,N-diethylethanolamine (DEEA) and N-methyl-1,3-propanediamine (MAPA) and their mixtures for carbon capture process simulation

Chemical Engineering Research and Design ◽

10.1016/j.cherd.2020.02.029 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 158 ◽

pp. 46-63

Author(s):

Seloua Mouhoubi ◽

Lionel Dubois ◽

Philip Loldrup Fosbøl ◽

Guy De Weireld ◽

Diane Thomas

Keyword(s):

Aqueous Solutions ◽

Thermodynamic Modeling ◽

Process Simulation ◽

Carbon Capture ◽

Co2 Absorption ◽

Capture Process

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Experimental investigations and model-based optimization of CZZ/H-FER 20 bed composition for the direct synthesis of DME from CO2-rich syngas

Reaction Chemistry & Engineering ◽

10.1039/d1re00470k ◽

2022 ◽

Author(s):

Stefan Wild ◽

Bruno Lacerda de Oliveira Campos ◽

Thomas A. Zevaco ◽

David Guse ◽

Matthias Kind ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dimethyl Ether ◽

Direct Synthesis ◽

Experimental Investigations ◽

Process Conditions ◽

Kinetics Studies ◽

Model Based ◽

Wide Range ◽

Experimental Kinetics ◽

Synthesis Of Dimethyl Ether

Experimental kinetics studies and model-based optimization were performed for the direct synthesis of dimethyl ether (DME) in a wide range of process conditions, including various CuO/ZnO/ZrO2:H-FER 20 bed compositions. This,...

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Modelling and Environmental Aspects of Direct or Indirect Dimethyl Ether Synthesis Using Digestate as Feedstock

Mathematical Modelling and Engineering Problems ◽

10.18280/mmep.080514 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (5) ◽

pp. 780-786

Author(s):

Aristide Giuliano ◽

Enrico Catizzone

Keyword(s):

Anaerobic Digestion ◽

Dimethyl Ether ◽

Process Simulation ◽

Organic Waste ◽

Added Value ◽

Target Product ◽

Environmental Aspects ◽

Dimethyl Ether Synthesis ◽

Ether Synthesis

The conversion of waste and residues towards high added value products has receiving a growing attention, as a reliable strategy to improve sustainability of emergent processes. Anaerobic digestion converts organic waste into biogas and digestate. While biogas may be used for energetic purpose, digestate has limited uses and with a low profitability. In this paper, dimethyl ether (DME) is adopted as target product which may be produced from digestate-derived syngas. Process simulation is carried out for both direct and indirect synthesis of DME and environmental aspects are assessed.

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The high-yield direct synthesis of dimethyl ether from CO2 and H2 in a dry reaction environment

Journal of Materials Chemistry A ◽

10.1039/d0ta10417e ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Huazheng Li ◽

Shoujie Ren ◽

Shenxiang Zhang ◽

Surya Padinjarekutt ◽

Bratin Sengupta ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Dimethyl Ether ◽

Direct Synthesis ◽

High Yield ◽

Highly Efficient ◽

Dme Synthesis ◽

Water Conduction ◽

Synthesis Of Dimethyl Ether

Highly efficient DME synthesis from CO2 and H2 was realized in a dry reaction environment via the incorporation of a water-conduction membrane.

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Techno-Economic Assessment of Bio-Syngas Production for Methanol Synthesis: A Focus on the Water–Gas Shift and Carbon Capture Sections

Bioengineering ◽

10.3390/bioengineering7030070 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 70 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Aristide Giuliano ◽

Cesare Freda ◽

Enrico Catizzone

Keyword(s):

Methanol Synthesis ◽

Carbon Capture ◽

Production Cost ◽

Biomass Gasification ◽

Water Gas Shift ◽

Co2 Absorption ◽

Methanol Production ◽

Syngas Production ◽

Co Conversion ◽

Water Gas

The biomass-to-methanol process may play an important role in introducing renewables in the industry chain for chemical and fuel production. Gasification is a thermochemical process to produce syngas from biomass, but additional steps are requested to obtain a syngas composition suitable for methanol synthesis. The aim of this work is to perform a computer-aided process simulation to produce methanol starting from a syngas produced by oxygen–steam biomass gasification, whose details are reported in the literature. Syngas from biomass gasification was compressed to 80 bar, which may be considered an optimal pressure for methanol synthesis. The simulation was mainly focused on the water–gas shift/carbon capture sections requested to obtain a syngas with a (H2 – CO2)/(CO + CO2) molar ratio of about 2, which is optimal for methanol synthesis. Both capital and operating costs were calculated as a function of the CO conversion in the water–gas shift (WGS) step and CO2 absorption level in the carbon capture (CC) unit (by Selexol® process). The obtained results show the optimal CO conversion is 40% with CO2 capture from the syngas equal to 95%. The effect of the WGS conversion level on methanol production cost was also assessed. For the optimal case, a methanol production cost equal to 0.540 €/kg was calculated.

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