Environmental life cycle assessment (E-LCA) applied to the synthesis of methanol and dimethylcarbonate

Environmental Life Cycle Analysis, ELCA, has been used for assessing the environmental impact of the synthesis of methanol using either carbon monoxide or recovered carbon dioxide. The best mixing for the minimisation of both the emissions and hydrogen consumption has been shown to be a 3:1 molar ratio of CO and CO2. The preliminary results of a cost analysis and energy assessment, mixing steam and dry reforming, are also presented. The same methodology has been used for the assessment of three different synthetic pathways for dimethylcarbonate, including the one based on the use of phosgene, a process now on stream that has a high environmental impact.