Patent · US Expired

Method of and apparatus for manufacturing methanol

US6183701A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
24References
34Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 4, 1999
Grant dateFeb 6, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 4, 2019

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02P20/52
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

In a method of and apparatus for manufacturing methanol and higher alcohols from natural gas a catalytic area is formed on the exterior of a gas permeable partition. Natural gas is maintained on the interior of the gas permeable partition at predetermined pressure. Relative movement between the gas permeable partition and the water forms sub-micron sized bubbles of natural gas. Electromagnetic radiation is directed onto the catalytic surface to form hydroxyl radicals from the water. Methyl, ethyl, and propyl ions from the natural gas combine with the hydroxyl ions to form methanol, ethanol, and propanol.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.