抄録
DME is a kind of ether derived from methanol, and has been utilized as propellant and/or solvent up to now. However, recently, DME has been highlighted as potential clean/eco-friendly energy for power generation as well as substitute for diesel fuel, and further has possibility to be used as intermediates for ethylene, acetic acid and other chemicals.
Mitsubishi Gas Chemical (MGC) has been producing DME in Japan based on methanol dehydration process for 25 years. As for methanol production technology, MGC is a world-famous process owner, and MGC technology has been licensed and practiced in AR-RAZI in Saudi Arabia, Metor in Venezuela with total capacity of 4 million metric tons per year.
Fuel grade DME in large scale is possible by integrating dehydration process with methanol production at competitive price commercially.
Technology of DME is described in this paper.
