Patents

This process separates pure components from a product mixture produced by a one-step dimethyl ether synthesis reactor. The product mixture is scrubbed with pure dimethyl ether followed by scrubbing with aqueous methanol solvent in two absorption columns to reduce CO2 level and to minimize methanol and dimethyl ether loss with the recovered unconverted synthetic gas. Pure water or aqueous methanol is mixed with the vapor stream of CO2 separation distillation. Dimethyl ether, methanol and water mixture are separated. A scheme for the separation of methanol and water mixture minimizes the size, energy and cost of separation. The process can be cost-effective, energy-efficient, environment-friendly and readily miniaturized.