Methanol can be catalytically dehydrated

and partially converted to ethylene over alumina and zeolite

catalysts. The process based on novel zeolite catalysts (ZSM-
5)was developed by Mobil (MTO, Methanol to Olefins).A new
development introduced by UOP/ Norsk Hydro, converts
methane to methanol in a first stage and then converts the
methanol to olefins. Economics of this new process seem to be
competitive with conventional processes [73]. The process is
based on a fluidized-bed reactor for conversion of methanol.
80% of the carbon content of methanol is converted into
ethylene and propene. The process has been tested in a 0.5t/d
unit in Norway.
Methanol obtained from syngas can be converted in high
selectivity (but at a low rate) to ethanol with the help of
catalysts and promoters
The UOP/HYDRO Methanol-to-Olefins (MTO) process
represents advancement over the MOBILs MTO technology.
This process uses a new zeolite based on SAPO-34. In the
1980s, scientists at Union Carbide discovered SAPO-34, silicon,
aluminum and phosphorous based molecular sieve. SAPO-34
was found to be an excellent catalyst for conversion of
methanol to ethylene (48%) and propylene (33%) producing
high yields of both. This catalytic process had the flexibility of
varying the ethylene/propylene ratio by tuning reaction
conditions [27,28,3234]. Figure 2.9 reports a simplified flow
scheme of the UOP/HYRO MTO process. In this diagram,
evaporated methanol is being fed directly to the fluidized bed
reactor, which is operated in the temperature range of 350-
525C and pressure of about 1-3 barg.
The fluidized bed technology of UOP offers a number
of advantages: a) The capability of maintaining a
constant catalyst activity and product composition via
the continuous regeneration of a portion of the used
catalyst with air, b) The operating flexibility due to the
fluidized bed operating allowing heat recovery from the
exothermic MTO reaction [34].
Reported results show the conversion of methanol to
ethylene and propylene having about 7281% carbon
selectivity, with ethylene to propylene ratios in between
0.77 and 1.3 [33,34].