Stripping Enhanced Distillation—A Novel Application in Renewable CO2 to Dimethyl Ether Production and Purification

The transition towards a CO2 neutral industry is currently spurring many new developments regarding processes for the conversion of CO2, or CO2-rich streams, into platform molecules such as methanol and dimethyl ether (DME). New give rise to separation challenges, well novel opportunities joint optimization reaction separation. In this context, DME can be performed very efficiently using newly developed concept stripping enhanced distillation (SED). SED process that utilizes an additional component (clearing gas) promote in column. benefits from utilization feedstock components clearing gas afterwards recycled back unit with vapor distillate. Strongly improving performance column, approach also removes need external mediums and, addition, recycling may significantly reduce demand on upstream SED. are demonstrated two different synthesis: (i) CO2–DME after sorption synthesis (SEDMES) process, hydrogen gas, (ii) direct via dry reforming (DIDR), methane gas. For cases, it shown that, minimal adaptations, energy consumption reduced by 20–30%, while product losses minimized at same time.