Simulação do processo de produção do metanol a partir da reação de hidrogenação do CO2 utilizando H2 verde proveniente da eletrólise e CO2 proveniente da absorção por Amina

Abstract

The excessive release of CO₂, a greenhouse gas, contributes to the rise in the planet’s average temperature, leading to significant environmental and economic impacts. Converting CO₂ into methanol through hydrogenation yielding renewable methanol, a fuel and an important feedstock in the chemical industry emerges as a promising alternative to reduce the concentration of this gas in the atmosphere. In this context, simulating both the renewable methanol production process and the main routes for obtaining the raw materials, CO₂ and H₂, provides valuable insights into the generation of this product. Therefore, this work aims to simulate in Aspen Plus version 14 the processes involved in renewable methanol formation via catalytic reaction, alkaline water electrolysis, and CO₂ absorption from greenhouse gas streams using monoethanolamine (MEA). These simulations demonstrated consistency with existing green methanol production facilities, such as those developed by the Icelandic company Carbon Recycling International (CRI), and allowed a comparison of the required amounts of CO₂ and water needed for such operations. In this way, a mass yield of 72.5% was obtained for carbon capture and a consumption of 2.25 tons of water in alkaline electrolysis per ton of methanol produced.