VISHWAKARMA GOVERNMENT ENGINEERING COLLEGE,

CHANDKEHDA, AHMEDABAD
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT:- PETROLEUM REFINING AND
PETROCHEMICALS (3160510)
Topic:- Properties, Uses, Manufacturing Process,
Flowsheets and Major Engineering Problems of
Methanol

Prepared by:-

Enrollment Name

210170105001 Gorfad Shyam

210170105002 Gorfad kailsh

Guided By:-
210170105003 Dholariya Darshan
Prof. D.R Gandhi,
210170105004 Kava Avadh Chemical Engineering Department
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Outline
• History of methanol
• Physical properties
• Manufacturing process
1. Chemical reaction
• Flow chart
• Process description
• Major engineering problem
• Use of methanol

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History of methanol
• Methanol is produced naturally In the anaerobic metabolism otmany varieties of
bacteria .
• It is commonly present in small amounts in the environment .
• But , in few days atmospheric methanol oxidized by sunlight to produce (CO2
+H2O) .
• Methanol is responsible for accidental Suicidal and epidemic poisning
• It’s resulting in deth and permanent sequelae.

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Properties of Methanol (CH₃OH) :-
Properties Particular
Chemical name Methanol, Methyl alcohol Wood alcohol,
Carbinol
Molecular formula CH3OH
Molecular weight 32.042 g/mol
Appearance Light, volatile, colourless, flammable and
poisonous liquid
Odour Distinctive odor
Solubility Miscible with ethanol, ether, benzene, most
organic solvent and ketones
Boiling point 65 °C
Melting point -98 °C
Density 792 kg/m3
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Manufacturing Process:-
• Synthesis gas (CO + H2O) is undergoes reaction at higher temperature and
pressure. Converted into methanol. Thereafter, it is purified through several
columns.
• Chemical reaction :
• Manufacturing of methanol from synthesis gas is exothermic, which is as follows.

• Some side reactions are also occurred with synthesis gas

x Higher molecular weight alcohols & hydrocarbons

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FLOW CHART

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Process description
• Hydrogen and carbon monoxide in mole ratio of 2:25 is compressed 200-350 atm
using compressor
• After that feed is inserted in to high pressure reactor
• In reactor steam is circulated in the heating tubes to maintain temperature of 300-
375 °c .
• Reaction is highly exothermic and take place with a decrease in volume .
• Exit gas cooled down by heat exchanger .
• After cooling , phase separationtion allowed in surge drum .
• In this phase sepration operation methanol enter the liquid phase and other
unreacted feed is produced as gas phase .
• Some stream sent as recycle to reactor and some purged to remove inert
component .
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• Liquid stream depressurized to about 14 atm to enter a second phase
separator .
• Flash drum produce fuel gas as gaseous product and liquid stream is
rich of methanol component .
• Second phase separator is require to remove dissolve Fuel gas component
in the liquid stream at higher Pressure .
• If it is not done than methane remain in liquid stream .
• The liquid methanol sent to the jacketed reactor having agitator .
• After that potassium permanganate enteinto reactor to purify
methanol .
• Methanol collect from bottom of reactor and send into ether column to
separate ether .
• In final disstillation to seprate out water and heavy alcohol .
• The Yield is about 98- 99% methanol . 8
Major Engineering problem
• Temperature and pressure
• Reactor design
• Heat exchange
• Catalyst fouling
• Inert gas accumulation

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Uses
• Methanol is used to produce formaldehyde, methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE),
acetic acid and dimethyl ether (DME), a clean-burning fuel with similar
properties. propane
• It is primarily used as an industrial solvent for inks, resins, adhesives to wood
items, and dyes. It is used as a solvent in the manufacture of cholesterol,
streptomycin, vitamins, hormones, and other pharmaceuticals.
• It is also used to produce chemicals used to manufacture polyester fabrics and
fibers, acrylic plastics, pesticides, textile solvents, pharmaceuticals, and windshield
wiper fluid.
• Methanol is also a key component in biodiesel, a renewable fuel that can be used in
place of, or blended with, conventional diesel fuel. It is used as a blended fuel with
gasoline (M85), and as an octane booster/additive in MTBE (methyl tertiary butyl
ether) reformulated gasoline.
• Methanol is used as an antifreeze for automotive radiators, Production
ingredient of gasoline. 10
Reference

• https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrKCbyIjhNmhgQAH6S7HAx.;_ylu=
Y29sbwNzZzMEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1713767304
/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fMethanol/R
K=2/RS=p54gzqqrh2KS5efS4udjSz35teU-
• https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrKCbyIjhNmhgQAIqS7HAx.;_ylu=Y
29sbwNzZzMEcG9zAzIEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1713767304/R
O=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.britannica.com%2fscience%2fmetha
nol/RK=2/RS=zROmbxnXXPY0IZtAvj_E1MwVGDk-

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THANK YOU

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