Integrating low-temperature methanol synthesis and CO₂ sequestration technologies: Application to IGCC plants

Coupling a low-temperature once-through methanol synthesis process with CO₂ separation technology would provide an option for integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plants to address the CO₂ mitigation issue and also create the capability to utilize methanol as a peak-shaving fuel. Data are presented that show that several nickel complexes activated by alkoxide bases catalyze facile synthesis of methanol from synthesis gas (primarily a mixture of CO and H₂) in homogeneous liquid phase under mild conditions of temperature (<150°C) and pressure (<5MPa). Under these mild conditions, batch-mode productivity of up to 20gmolMeOH/lcat.h is achieved and more importantly, per pass gas conversion and methanol selectivity exceed 90 and 95%, respectively. The overall synthesis gas to methanol process has built-in waste-minimization and minimum by-product formation features and thus achieves CO₂ mitigation. The potential of this low-temperature methanol synthesis approach is considered in light of the recent advances in CO₂ sequestration technologies. A successful development of this technology may also provide an atom-economical pathway to transport remote natural gas in the form of methanol, a liquid energy-carrier.