CHEMICAL-EQUILIBRIA IN METHANOL SYNTHESIS FROM METHYL FORMATE

The chemical equilibria of the gas-phase methanol production from methyl formate were studied by analyzing the hydrugenolysis reaction (HCOOCH3+ 2H2 -2CH3OH) and decarbonylation reaction (HCOOCH3 CH3OH + CO) occurring concurrently.The equilibrium constant, which includes the effects of nonideality, was estimated fur each reaction using equations of state. Equilibrium composition for each constituent in this reaction system was evaluated in relation to temperature, pressure, and initial concentration ratio (H2/HCOOCH3), and the effect of CO feed on equilibrium conversion of methyl formate was also discussed. General guidelines lo improve the selectivity of hydrogenulysis reaction were proposed. © 1990 Korean Institute of Chemical Engineering.close3