Efficient and environmentally friendly processing of heavy oils to methanol and derived products

摘要

The invention provides for a method for processing heavy oil from any sources including tar sands, oil shales, varied residues in a bi-reforming process utilizing reaction conditions with steam and carbon dioxide sufficient to form a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide to form methanol. Methanol produced can be dehydrated to form dimethyl ether, with water produced being recycled back to the bi-reforming process.