Copyright © 2010 Solander Science Park
September 04, 09
For the first time ever methanol has been catalytically synthesised from black liquor by researchers from LTU and ETC. Ph.D. student Caroline Häggström and Dr Olov Öhrman have together with technicians from ETC built a catalysis lab test rig at ETC in Piteå.
-We have now confirmed that it is possible, in small scale, to produce methanol catalytically from black liquor and we will continue with further experiments to learn more about methanol and DME synthesis, says Caroline.
-In order to convert the synthesis gas, that is produced in Chemrec’s pressurized black liquor gasifier, to methanol impurities such as benzene and sulphur had to be removed in the lab test rig, concludes Dr Öhrman.The project is a co-operation at Solander Science Park between Luleå University of Technology, Energy Technology Centre in Piteå (ETC) and Chemrec and financed by the Swedish Energy Agency, STEM. The long-term purpose of the project is to build competence of methanol and DME synthesis in Sweden.