Conceptual Design and Process Simulation of Methanol Synthesis from Glycerol

Glycerol is considered as the main by-product during the production of biodiesel. Using glycerol as a biorefinery feedstock cannot only promote a circular biodiesel production but also alleviate waste management challenges. An insight-based approach (CHO ternary diagrams) was used in this study for the synthesis of methanol from glycerol via reforming processes. It was shown that to produce syngas that fulfils the requirement for methanol synthesis, glycerol should be co-fed with methane in a molar ratio of 1:2 using steam as a reforming agent. A high-level economic as well as environmental analysis was conducted. It was found that the price of glycerol has a significant impact on the economic potential of the process. The glycerol price at which the economic potential was zero was found to be approximately $ 0.93/kg. It was shown that the process has a maximum carbon efficiency and atom economy with no waste generation (100% carbon efficiency and atom economy and 0 E-factor). Based on these CHO ternary diagram targets, a process simulation for methanol synthesis was developed using Aspen Plus. It was further revealed that Aspen Plus does not exceed targets set by CHO ternary diagrams (in terms of methanol production rate, carbon efficiency and atom economy). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s41660-022-00275-x.