Abstract: The invention concerns a method for producing carbon monoxide by reverse conversion, in gas phase, of carbonic acid gas and gaseous hydrogen while minimising the production of methane. The invention is characterised in that the reaction is carried out at a temperature between 300 and 520° C. and under pressure between 10 to 40 bars in the presence of an iron-free catalyst based on zinc oxide and chromium oxide. Said method is preferably carried out continuously and comprises preferably the following steps which consist in: a) preparing a gas mixture rich in carbon dioxide and in hydrogen having a temperature between 300 and 520° C.

Abstract: The invention pertains to an installation comprising a reforming reactor (12) supplied with a vaporized and superheated methanol-water mixture, a device for heating the liquid methanol-water mixture by heat exchange (5) with the reformed gaseous mixture (56), a device for vaporizing and superheating the heated mixture by heat exchange (23) with a heat-carrying fluid (51), a device for effecting the reaction of the vaporized methanol-water mixture by heat exchange (28-29) also with the heat-carrying fluid (31-32), a separator (75) for separating the water from the reformed mixture by cooling and partial condensation (61-63-64), and a device for producing pure hydrogen which also produces residual combustibles, and a device (15) for heating the heat-carrying fluid (31-32) by combustion (15), in particular of the residual combustibles.

Abstract: Methanol is catalytically cracked (at 4) then the essential portion of the components other than CO is removed by washing with water (at 5), selective adsorption (at 7) and permeation (at 8). The process and apparatus has application to the production of moderate quantity of carbon monoxide.

Abstract: In a process for manufacturing fatty alcohols comprising hydrogenating the corresponding fatty acid methyl esters, the hydrogen used for the hydrogenation reaction is regenerated from impure methanol as a by-product of the reaction. The impure methanol recovered from the hydrogenation reactor is conducted to a steam reformer reactor, from whence the regenerated hydrogen is recycled back to the hydrogenation reactor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for reforming impure methanol wherein residual gas produced during the reforming reaction is combusted simultaneously with residual gas coming from the purification of the hydrogen produced. The apparatus includes a tubular reactor in which the steam reforming is performed, a vaporizer for the reaction mixture, a heat exchanger to exchange heat between the outgoing gases and the feed liquid, a separator, a purification unit, and a combustion furnace for the residual purification gas. The apparatus further comprises a pipe for bringing in the condensed water-alcohol mixture to the combustion furnace, this pipe being equipped with two heat exchangers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a methanol reforming process, and apparatus in which the methanol reforming is conducted in at least two stages, with a circulating double passage of the reactant mixture of the first reforming stage inside the residual gas combustion zone. The entire reaction is conducted in adiabatic operating conditions.The process is useful for obtaining gas with a strong hydrogen content.