US 11,697,629 B2
System and process for methanol recovery
Ali Al-Hammad, Riyadh (SA); and Ijaz Chaudary, Riyadh (SA)
Assigned to SABIC GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES B.V., Bergen op Zoom (NL)
Appl. No. 16/639,951
Filed by SABIC Global Technologies B.V., Bergen op Zoom (NL)
PCT Filed Aug. 10, 2018, PCT No. PCT/IB2018/056062
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Feb. 18, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/038627, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 28, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/549,069, filed on Aug. 23, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0247737 A1, Aug. 6, 2020
Int. Cl. C07C 29/80 (2006.01); C07C 29/151 (2006.01)
CPC C07C 29/80 (2013.01) [C07C 29/1518 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
 
1. A method of purifying methanol, comprising:
passing a feed stream comprising crude methanol through a first column;
distributing a first purified methanol fraction to a top portion of the first column;
distributing a first water fraction to a bottom portion of the first column;
distributing a first waste alcohol fraction to a middle portion of the first column;
withdrawing the first waste alcohol fraction from the middle portion of the first column and passing the first waste alcohol fraction through a second column;
distributing a second purified methanol fraction to a top portion of the second column;
distributing a second water fraction to a bottom portion of the second column;
distributing a second waste alcohol fraction to a middle portion of the second column;
withdrawing the second purified methanol fraction from the top portion of the second column;
withdrawing the first water fraction from the first column;
withdrawing the second water fraction from the second column;
combining the first water fraction withdrawn from the first column with the second water fraction withdrawn from the second column;
passing a portion of the second waste alcohol fraction through a third column;
condensing and recovering all of the first purified methanol fraction;
withdrawing the second waste alcohol fraction;
and
recycling a portion of the second waste alcohol fraction back to the first column;
wherein a pressure within the first column and the second column is about 1 bar to 2 bar;
wherein a temperature within the first column and the second column is 120° C. to 130° C.;
wherein a source of the feed stream is a product of a methanol production process; and
wherein the methanol production process comprises synthesizing methanol by contacting synthesis gas with a catalyst.