Mixture for Use as a Liquid Sorbent in Methanol Synthesis and Process for Methanol Synthesis Using the Mixture

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This invention relates to a specially designed liquid mixture that serves as a sorbent (absorbing agent) for methanol and water during methanol production from synthesis gases (carbon monoxide/hydrogen, carbon dioxide/hydrogen, or their mixtures). The mixture consists of specific thermally stable ionic liquids, including bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide salts with organic cations and additional components (such as zwitterions or certain inorganic salts). The mixture efficiently absorbs methanol and water under the high temperatures and pressures typical for methanol synthesis, helping to shift chemical equilibrium and increase methanol yields. Also described is a method for conducting methanol synthesis using this mixture to continually absorb and remove the products, allowing the process to be more efficient and continuous.

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• Industrial methanol synthesis plants (in-situ product removal).
• Chemical reactors where shifting equilibrium and increased conversion rates for methanol are desired.
• Continuous or semi-continuous methanol production facilities using high-pressure, high-temperature conditions.
• Synthesis processes using different syngas compositions (CO/H2, CO2/H2).
• Other chemical processes requiring the removal of methanol or water from gas mixtures using a stable liquid sorbent.

BenefitsContent extracted from patent full text and abstract with AI.

• Significantly increases methanol yield by shifting the reaction equilibrium via efficient product removal.
• Reduces recirculation and separation requirements in traditional methanol synthesis, simplifying plant design and operation.
• The sorbent mixture is thermally and chemically stable even at high temperatures and pressures, providing operational robustness.
• The mixture’s absorption capacity can be tuned by changing its composition, allowing for process optimization.
• Enables more continuous and efficient methanol production, reducing downtime and energy usage.
• Minimizes contamination of the gas phase with solvent vapors due to the low vapor pressure of ionic liquids.

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Patent Abstract

The present invention relates to a mixture for use as a liquid sorption agent in methanol synthesis and to a methanol synthesis process using said mixture. The mixture is formed from a component A) in the form of at least one bis (trifluormethylsulfonyl) imide salt with an organic cation, and a component B), consisting of a salt formed from one of the anions [PO4]3-~, [HPO4]2-, [H2PO4]-, [S04]2-, [HSO4]-, [ΝΟ3]-, [ΝΟ2]- or C1- and from one, two or three of the cations suitable for A), the number of cations corresponding to the absolute amount of the ionic charge of each anion (component B1), and of a bis (trifluormethylsulfonyl) imide salt with a metal cation (component B2) and/or of a zwitterionic compound (component B3). When liquid, the mixture has good methanol- and water-solvent properties and can be used as a liquid sorption agent, in particular in methanol synthesis. The present invention also relates to a process for carrying out methanol synthesis using the mixture.