GAS-L: Methanol/ethanol confusion...

[Reedtb2@cs.com]

Dear Peter:

It is well established technology to make natural gas (or coal or wood) into synthesis gas, CO + H2.  It is also well established to change the ratio of H2 to CO from .5  to infinity.  

It is well extablished technology to make synthesis gas into methanol - about 2 billion gallons a year for the US selling wholesale for ~ $0.50/gal.

It is very difficult to make synthesis gas into ethanol and costs about $2/gal.  

Both alcohols burn very well and cleanly in IC engines because of their high octane.

There is so much confusion in the world about fuels and I try to keep them straight.  (Hydrogen is the most confused.  I see Bush is converting our 80 mi/gal car program into a hydrogen fueled car program.  Currently there is NO hydrogen produced primarily for commercial fuel use.)  Grin and bear it.

Yours,          TOM REED        THE FUEL CHEMIST


It is very difficult to make ethanol from synthesis gas. 

In a message dated 1/9/02 8:07:57 AM Mountain Standard Time, snkm@btl.net writes:


> A question -- Gentlemen and Ladies;
>
> During my perusal of "reforming" technology I came across so many
> references to reforming natural gas into many various products -- including
> "ethanol".
>
> Being as their are humongous deposits of natural gas in Alaska and the
> North West territories of Canada that are presently no commercially viable
> due to the extreme costs of pipe-lining said product to market:
>
> Would it not be viable to "reform" natural gas to ethanol for tanker
> shipment to market??
>
> If such a market was to develop --
>
> How is that you might say??
>
> Well, read below ---
>
> [Note: ethanol is an ideal fuel cell propellent]
>
> Peter Singfield/Belize