Liquid phase methanol reactor staging process for the production of methanol

Abstract From the Canadian patent

The present invention is a process for the production of methanol from a syngas feed containing carbon monoxide carbon dioxide and, hydrogen. Basically the process is the combination of two liquid phase methanol reactors into a staging process such that each reactor is, operated to favor a particular reaction mechanism. In the first reactor the operation is controlled to favor the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide, and in the second reactor, the operation is controlled so as to favor the hydrogenation of carbon dioxide. This staging process results in substantial increases in methanol yield.