The Methanol-To-Gasoline (MTG) process uses zeolite ZSM-5 to catalytically convert methanol to high quality gasoline.  Recent events such as increases in gasoline prices have heightened interest in alternative fuel sources such as the MTG process.  Our group is studying MTG in order to design pilot and full scale plants.

Last quarter, the MTG group surveyed the literature, set up a bench scale MTG reactor, and made one experimental run of the reactor.  Small amounts of product were obtained but not analyzed.

This quarter, the planned work is as follows:

1) Experimentation and analysis of data.  We will run the bench scale reactor repeatedly, while collecting data on the process conditions and operation.  We will analyze any products obtained, using standard chemical analysis techniques including gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, FTIR, or other methods.  We will do mass balances on reactor, comparing reactants and products.

2) Improve operation of bench scale process.  The two main areas to consider are the reactor and the condenser.  For the reactor, we will vary parameters including residence time of reactants, temperature, weight of catalyst used, amount of reactant, and age of catalyst.  For the condenser, we will use Pro/II to conduct a flash calculation case study of probable components coming out of reactor (including reactants, products and intermediates) at different temperatures to predict their phases.  We will install a thermocouple on the end of the condenser to measure the temperature of the condensates.  We will vary parameters including the temperature of cooling loop.  We will consider enhancing the product collection system (e.g. by adding a vapor trap using liquid N2 to condense product gases for analysis).

3) Design/Scaleup Calculations.  We will use available information (either from our experiments or from literature) to make preliminary design calculations of pilot and full scale plants.

4) Web Page.  We will create a web page describing the process and our work.

5) Reports.  We will submit progress reports every two weeks.  We will turn in a final report by Tuesday, June 13.  Safety reports will be submitted by new project members by the end of the third week.

See the attached chart for the scheduling of the above task groups.  The chart does not show when specific tasks will be accomplished, since most will be performed either on an ongoing basis or only as needed.