Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 2.3
Methanol produc-
tion using Bio-MCN process,
the crude glycerin process-
ing leads to bio methanol
production
methods propose the usage of renewable hydrogen for methanol production. Meth-
anol production using biomass is inexpensive and more effective compared with
that formed from carbon dioxide. Methanol production from carbon dioxide re-
duces the emission of this greenhouse gas. Numerous choices are being examined
for utilization of carbon dioxide taken from flue gases of power stations (Cifre and
Badr
2007
).
i.
Flue gas carbon dioxide
The methanol can also be formed using carbon dioxide. This process increases
the yield of methanol, controls the greenhouse effect and recycles carbon diox-
ide emitted from various sources as a hydrogen carrier. Once carbon dioxide is
obtained, it is converted into liquid phase and is taken to the hydrogen manu-
facture unit. The water electrolysis is done using electricity. The manufac-
ture of methanol using reprocessed carbon dioxide along with hydrogen gas
comprises of two stages: methanol production using a catalyst and methanol
decontamination (Cifre and Badr
2007
). Methanol manufactured using bio-
mass and flue gases is about 428.26 and 576.42 €/t respectively, while natural
gas source produces least amount of methanol which is 101.91 €/t (Cifre and
Badr
2007
).
ii.
Bio-MCN method
Another method for the production of biomethane is using crude glycerin.
Bio-MCN is the first corporation in the whole globe to manufacture and
sell large amount of bio methanol having extraordinary quality. The Fig.
2.3
shows the flow diagram of the process of methanol production by Bio-MCN
process (Van Bennekom et al.
2012
). In this process, the crude glycerin as a
byproduct from biodiesel manufacture is converted into bio methanol, which
is disinfected and converted into gaseous phase. Its purification is done by
vacuum distillation unit, where it is evaporated and the contaminations are
removed. The glycerin vapors are introduced into the steam to remove water,
alkanes and heavy fractions. The resultant methanol formed via this process is
99.85 %, having the same purity as from methane (Van Bennekom et al.
2012
).
The low amount of greenhouse gases using Bio-MCN process for methanol
production is seen when compared to gasoline. The Fig.
2.4
tells that gasoline
causes about 80 % of greenhouse gases emission all around the globe. In com-
parison Bio-MCN bio methanol resulted in 50 % greenhouse gases emission
in 2011.
