Enhancing separation efficiency in European syngas industry by using zeolites

Syngas is traditionally used in industry for production of fuels in the kerosene, gasoline and diesel range via Fischer-Tropsch, for the manufacture of bulk chemicals like ammonia, methanol and dimethyl ether and for synthesis of a whole array of fine chemicals. The carbon monoxide/hydrogen ratio of the syngas is an important design variable to maximize production of these compounds. Therefore, the search of effective processes that enable said ratio adjustment as well as individual compound purification is an essential and ongoing effort for industry. In this work, we propose a development of a zeolite-based separation process to obtain carbon dioxide-neutral fuels and chemicals. The process designed is based on gas uptake and release, combining separation efficiency with low separation costs. Calculation of separation behavior has been done for mixtures generated by plasmolysis of CO2. Carbon dioxide dissociation into CO and O-2 and as a result a mixture of carbon monoxide, oxygen and a residual carbon dioxide is obtained. Therefore, the purification of CO becomes necessary. Here we provide a purification process design based in multicomponent adsorption and separation in commercial available zeolites. The process identifies NaX and NaY as the most suitable zeolites for separation in a wide range of operating conditions.

Automated summary

This study proposes a zeolite-based separation process to obtain carbon dioxide-neutral fuels and chemicals, combining separation efficiency with low costs. By calculating the separation behavior of mixtures generated by plasmolysis of CO2, a purification process design based on multicomponent adsorption and separation in commercially available zeolites is provided, with NaX and NaY identified as the most suitable zeolites for separation under a wide range of operating conditions.