Table 1: Comparison
Conversion of CO2 to methanol Conversion of CO2 to methanol
Alternative
through hydrogenation
Raw material CO2, H2
Nature of raw material Renewable
 Various source of CO2
feedstock.
 Feedstock carbon dioxide is
inexpensive and abundant.
 The hydrogen gas can be
derived from electrolysis
plant or produced by steam
methane reforming, coal
gasification and partial
Sustainability oxidation of light oil
residues.
 Recycling of carbon dioxide
gas into useful liquid fuels
instead of releasing it to the
atmosphere.
 Reduce the emissions of
carbon dioxide gas to the
atmosphere.
Conversion of CO2 to methane
through bi-reforming though catalytic methanation
CH4, CO2 and H2O CO2, H2
Renewable Renewable
 Production of methanol can  Carbon dioxide is available in
replace fossil raw high volume and is
materials. considered cheap.
 Reduce the emissions of  Produce no harmful side
greenhouse gases. product.
 Reduce the potential of
global warming and the
reduction will be
intensified with a clean
energy source.
 Decrease the acidification
potential and only emits
46% of the input of carbon
dioxide from the plant[25].
 The price of natural gas
used in this process is
cheap and act as the
driving force for the
methanol production
 company.

Hydrogenation of carbon dioxide: Syngas production: Methanation of Carbon dioxide:

𝐶𝑂2 + 3𝐻2 ⇄ 𝐶𝐻3 𝑂𝐻 + 𝐻2 𝑂 3𝐶𝐻4 + 2𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝐶𝑂2 𝐶𝑂2 + 4𝐻2 ⇄ 𝐶𝐻4 + 2𝐻2 𝑂
⇄ 4𝐶𝑂 + 8𝐻2
Reaction
Syngas conversion into methanol:
4𝐶𝑂 + 8𝐻2 ⇄ 4𝐶𝐻3 𝑂𝐻

Catalyst

Catalyst used Zn/CuO doped with ZrO2 Zn/Cuo doped with Al2O3 Nickel( 50°C to 100°C)

Oxidation and Reduction

Catalyst recovery Oxidation and Reduction No regeneration of catalyst
Treatments

Environmental Impact

 Reduced industrial The product is methanol  Methane is one of the Methane is one of the
dependency on crude which is used as the gas that contributes to greenhouse gas that
oil and natural gas. renewable source of energy. greenhouse effect. contributes to the climate
 Harmful to aquatic life change and it is about 21
 Minimized the
with long lasting effects. times more powerful compare
Effect of product to greenhouse effect by
to carbon dioxide.
environment recycling of carbon
dioxide to methanol.
 When burnt,
methanol
demonstrates to be
cleaner than most
 energy sources.
 Compared to gasoline
and other fuels,
methanol is safer and
less toxic.

The production process
creates no toxic by-products,
there is no harmful effect to
environment and health.
Effect of by-product to
environment and health
 About 1.03 MWh
energy required for
Energy Consumption water electrolysis to
produce hydrogen.
 13 kWh is crucial for
This process produces  Water is the by- The by-product of biological
carbon monoxide as the product of methanation is water, there is
main product. Carbon methanation. no harmful effect to
monoxide can last in the  Water does not give environment and health.
atmosphere for almost a any harmful effect to
month and can be the surroundings and
transported over long heath.
distance. Carbon monoxide
can react radical hydroxyl
(OH) forming stronger
greenhouse gas, carbon
dioxide. Thus, increasing
the concentration of
methane which is also
another greenhouse gas.
Energy Consumption
High energy consumption The methanation of carbon Energy consumed by stirrer
due to high pressure and dioxide is an exothermic - CO2 is nearly 23 times
temperature used during the catalytic reaction and is more soluble than
reaction. Severe energy operated at temperatures hydrogen in
input is also required due to between 200°C and 550°C. fermentation liquid
 the compressor to the chemical stability of
compress hydrogen carbon dioxide. The bi-
and carbon dioxide reforming process is highly
from 30 bar up to 80 endothermic.
bar.
Buy hydrogen gas instead of Methanol conversion
producing it. process is exothermic. The
Way to control energy
heat generated can be
consumption
supplied for bi-reforming.
Flexibility of Operation
Syngas production: 800°C
Temperature 200 to 300oC
Syngas conversion into
methanol: 200 to 300°C
Syngas production: 16 bar
Pressure 50 to 100 bar
Syngas conversion into
methanol: 50 to 100 bar
The energy consumption for
this process is high since it
requires high temperature and
pressure.
For maximum carbon dioxide
conversion, it is convenient to
split the methanation into
several stages adding cooling
sections in between.
Depends on the catalyst used.
(220°C to 500°C)
Nickel ( 50°C to 100°C)
20 bar
- Due to low solubility
of hydrogen, extra
energy is needed by
the stirrer to increase
the mass transfer rate
of hydrogen to liquid.
Proceeds the reaction at higher
pressure to increase the
solubility of hydrogen in
liquid.
Depends on type of
biocatalyst used.
 mesophiles: 35 to
37°C
 thermophiles: 60 to
65°C
1 atm (1.01325 bar)

Reactor type used Multi tubular plug flow Staged Fixed Bed Reactor CSTR

Reaction rate Fast Fast Fast Slow

Safety Factor
  Equipment operate at Workers have to follow the  Methane is flammable Methane is flammable. It
high pressure. standard operating gas. It may be should be stored in dry, well-
procedure for the process exploded if heated. So, ventilated areas away from
 This methanol
due to the equipment it should store away heat sources.
synthesis can be
working at very high from heat sources.
considered as a
temperature and pressure.  All streams and
‘green’ process if the Safety PPE have must be equipment in this
main reactants,
wore all times due to the process operate at high
Safety precaution carbon dioxide and
toxic gas produced. pressures and
hydrogen, were to be
temperatures. All
produced from green
operators and
and renewable
employees on the plant
sources.
should be equipped
with safety equipment
and well trained on
safety procedures.
Carbon dioxide gas is non- The carbon monoxide  Inhalation of Methane Methane presence in high
toxic, non-corrosive and non- produced as the by-product can damage the concentration may displace
flammable. of the reaction can cause fertility and unborn the oxygen supply and cause
severe damage to human. child. suffocation, loss of
Therefore, workers have to  High concentrations consciousness, headache,
Health concern wear proper PPE to avoid may cause dizziness, and vomiting. Skin
from inhaling the toxic gas. asphyxiation. Contact contact with liquid methane
with gas or liquefied can cause frostbite.
gas may cause burns,
severe injury and/or
frostbite.
 Waste Management

 Oxygen gas.  Oxygen gas  The by product is  Heat released from the
 Carbon monoxide water. reaction
 Water

Waste produced  Water Water is produced as
 Carbon Monoxide by-product.

 Sell oxygen gas  Oxygen is released  The water can send  The waste heat can be
produced to obtain to the environment back to the hydrolysis used to heat the
profit. as oxygen gas is process to produce fermentor
non-toxic gas. hydrogen.  Wastewater treatment
 Conveyed the waste
 Filter the gas  Wastewater treatment before discharge to
water to waste water
produced according before discharge to environment.
treatment before
to the toxic level environment.
Handling of waste drained.
acquired by the
 Recycled carbon Department of
monoxide back to Safety and Health.
reactor for methanol  Wastewater
synthesis. treatment before
discharge to
environment.