Methanol from Lignite Plant

Subject: Science and Technology

Section: Science

Context: NLC requests Coal Ministry to include project under PLI scheme

Concept:

NLC India is working on a pilot project for production of methanol from lignite.
It plans to set up a 1,200 tonne-a-day unit using 2.5 million tonnes of lignite.
The company, which has land and lignite for the project, has requested the Ministry of Coal to include the project in the Centre’s production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme, under which a financial incentive is provided for every unit of production sold, for years.

Process:

Methanol can be mixed with petrol or can be converted into di-methyl ether (DME) and mixed with diesel for running vehicles and ships.
In coal-to-methanol or lignite-to-methanol plants, coal or lignite is first gasified into synthesis gas (syn gas) by mixing pulverised coal or lignite with an oxidant such as oxygen or steam.
The syn gas, which is very hot (about 1,800° C, is a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen) and is a building block for production of a range of chemicals, including methanol.
Lignite, which has much lower ash content than coal (around 6 per cent compared with 20 per cent and above for coal) is more suitable for gasification than coal.
- Coal gasification makes it possible to use coal with much less carbon dioxide emissions.