Optimization on low cost methanol production utilizes syngas of biomass: Simulation and validation

Biomass syngas as the intermediate product of utilization biomass to liquid fuel, bio-methanol. The syngas production itself was conducted due to its environmentally clean fuel and reducing greenhouse effect. The syngas was subject to low cost catalytic methanol synthesis assessment in term of low pressure and low temperature using high local content was developed in BPPT Indonesia. The catalyst has key role to achieve optimal conditions through lowering energy activation. BPPT has developed the methanol synthesis with Cu-based impregnation catalyst using γ-Al2O3 and Activated-Carbon from palm oil shell as support catalyst. Previous experiments delivered maximum methanol product reached 8 % by operational condition 14 bar and 260°C which closed to equilibrium concentration. Further work studied more detail using internal standard and simulation by MATLAB 2014. By this condition 4% of CO was converted to methanol. Validation conducted in micromeritic at 260°C of the simulation showed maximum yield based on H2 conversion reached up to 35.39 and 31.17% at 14 and 17 bars respectively. CO conversion calculation gave maximum yield up to 36.39 and 35.45% at 14 and 17 bars respectively.