Advances in Liquid Phase{trademark} technology

The {open_quotes}Liquid Phase{trademark} Technology{close_quotes} builds on the successful development by Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. of the slurry phase bubble column technology. Air Products and Chemicals Liquid Phase{trademark} technology embodies several chemical processes including Liquid Phase Methanol{trademark} (LPMEOH{trademark}) and the Liquid Phase DiMethyl Ether{trademark} (LPDME{trademark}) and other alcohols/oxygenates. The LPMEOH{trademark} technology was developed during the 1980`s with the financial support of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The concept was proven in over 7,400 hours of test operation in a DOE-owned, 3,200 gallons (U.S.) of methanol per day process development unit located at LaPorte, Texas. The first commercial-scale demonstration plant for the technology has been constructed, commissioned, and is now being operated at Eastman Chemical Company`s coal gasification facility in Kingsport, Tennessee under the DOE`s Clean Coal Technology Program. Construction began in October of 1995 and was completed in January of 1997. After commissioning and startup activities were completed, operation began in April of 1997. Currently, the LPMEOH{trademark} plant is producing 80,000 gallons of methanol per day. Over the next four years, a program of operation will demonstrate the commercial advantages of the technology to include simulations of the integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) coproduction of power and methanol application.more » Air Products and Eastman formed the {open_quotes}Air Products Liquid Phase Conversion Co., L.P.{close_quotes} partnership to execute the commercial-scale demonstration project. Most of the product methanol is refined to chemical-grade quality (99.85 wt% purity via distillation) and used by Eastman as chemical feedstock in the commercial facility. A portion of the product methanol will be withdrawn prior to purification (about 98 wt% purity) and used in off-site product-use tests.« less