| abstract |
Methanol is produced from a carbon monoxide stream by reacting carbon monoxide with steam in a catalytic shift reaction, removing any excess steam and at least part of the carbon dioxide from the shifted gas, reacting the resulting gas over a copper-containing methanol synthesis catalyst at under 300° C., heat exchanging reacted synthesis gas with water under pressure and bringing the resulting hot water into direct heat exchange with the carbon monoxide stream to provide steam for the shift reaction. In a preferred process the carbon monoxide stream is freed of non-refractory sulphur compounds before the shift stage and the refractory sulphur compounds are converted in the shift stage to H 2 S, which is removed with the carbon dioxide. |