The chemical equilibria of the gas-phase methanol production from methyl formate were studied by analyzing the hydrogenolysis reaction(HCOOCH3+2H2=2CH3OH) and decarbonylation reaction(HCOOCH3=CH3OH+CO) occurring concurrently. The equilibrium constant, which includes the effects of nonideality, was estimated for each reaction using equations of state. Equilibrium composition for each constituent in this reaction system was evaluated in relation to temperature, pressure, and initial concentration ratio(H2/HCOOCH3), and the effect of CO feed on equilibrium conversion of methyl formate was also discussed. General guidelines to improve the selectivity of hydrogenolysis reaction were proposed.
[References]
Roper M, Erdol Kohle Erdgas Petrochem., 37, 506, 1984