Methanol synthesis from CO ₂ and H ₂ in a bench‐scale test plant

A small-scale test plant with a methanol production capacity of 50 kg day−1 has been designed and constructed in order to examine the performance of a previously developed Cu/ZnO-based catalyst under practical reaction conditions. The reaction model for methanol synthesis over the developed catalyst is presented. In addition, the methanol production rates measured in the test plant were found to fit the rates calculated based on the kinetic equations. A 4000 t day−1 methanol synthesis plant from CO2 and H2 was designed based on the kinetic equations and the selectivity to methanol over the developed catalyst.