Potential methanol-ethanol synthesis from Hungarian sub-bituminous coal via plasma gasification and Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

A possible way of coal processing in Hungary with clean coal technology is detailed in this paper. First, the situation of coal mining in Hungary is introduced. Then a possible method for the utilisation of the Hungarian coal reserves is described: syngas is produced in a modern plasma coal gasifier which is utilised in a catalysed Fischer-Tropsch reactor to form oxygenates. The primary products of this process are alcohols: considering the obtained 53.8-97.2% coal gasification efficiency and the 2.5-6.3% alcohol production efficiency, 144.7-467.5 kg alcohol (methanol, ethanol) can be synthesised from 10 tons of sub-bituminous Borsod coal with clean coal technology. These oxygenates can be considered as high added value, environmentally friendly fuel additives which increase the octane number of gasoline. The experimental results obtained in the laboratory and at pilot-plant scale are discussed along with estimations concerning the feasibility of the novel technology.