Production of a fuel gas and synthetic natural gas from methanol

摘要

Methanol is passed over a catalyst at an elevated temperature and pressure to produce a fuel gas containing a high proportion of methane in a one- step catalytic conversion process. Removal of water and carbon dioxide from the fuel gas produces a synthetic natural gas. For example, methanol with water is passed over a precious metal catalyst such as ruthenium on alumina at a temperature in the range of about 350° C. to 500° C. and a pressure in the range of about 800 to 2500 psig to produce a gaseous mixture comprising methane, carbon dioxide, minor amounts of hydrogen and essentially no carbon monoxide. Upon condensing the water vapor and scrubbing out the carbon dioxide, synthetic natural gas is obtained having a methane content above 90% by volume.