CH₃OCH₃ · 46.07 g/mol
CH₃OCH₃
Clean fuel and aerosol propellant
Molecular Weight
46.07 g/mol
State
Gas
Catalyst
Acidic Zeolite or Alumin
Reactor
Fixed bed adiabatic

Olefinverbund Integration
Chemistry & Engineering
| Reaction | 2 CH₃OH → CH₃OCH₃ + H₂O |
| Thermodynamics | Exothermic dehydration |
| Catalyst | Acidic Zeolite or Alumina |
| Reactor class | Fixed bed adiabatic |
| Note | Clean burning diesel alternative. |
Applications
- Diesel substitute (clean combustion)
- Aerosol propellant (replaces CFCs)
- LPG blending
- Fuel cell hydrogen carrier
Extraterrestrial Production Pattern
- Methanol dehydration over γ-Al₂O₃ or zeolite catalyst
- Operating at 250-400°C
- Direct synthesis from syngas possible
- Liquefaction under mild pressure
Reaction Diagram
2 CH3OH -> CH3OCH3 + H2O
Unit Operations
Process steps following chemical engineering unit operation principles
| # | Operation | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Methanol Vaporization | Vaporize methanol feed |
| 2 | Dehydration | γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst at 250-350°C |
| 3 | Cooling | Cool reactor effluent |
| 4 | Water Separation | Condense and separate water |
| 5 | DME Distillation | Distill to >99.9% DME |
| 6 | Compression | Compress/liquefy DME for storage |
S88 Batch Control Model
ISA-88 BatchML schema — simplified for educational purposes
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!-- ISA-88 Batch Control Model for Dimethyl Ether -->
<!-- Educational schema - simplified for demonstration -->
<BatchML xmlns="http://www.wbf.org/xml/B2MML-V0600">
<ProcessCell ID="DME_PLANT_CELL">
<Description>Process cell for Dimethyl Ether production</Description>
<Unit ID="DME_PLANT">
<Description>Main synthesis unit</Description>
<!-- Equipment Modules -->
<EquipmentModule ID="VAPORIZER">
<Description>Vaporizer</Description>
</EquipmentModule>
<EquipmentModule ID="REACTOR">
<Description>Reactor</Description>
</EquipmentModule>
<EquipmentModule ID="COOLER">
<Description>Cooler</Description>
</EquipmentModule>
<EquipmentModule ID="SEPARATOR">
<Description>Separator</Description>
</EquipmentModule>
<EquipmentModule ID="COLUMN">
<Description>Column</Description>
</EquipmentModule>
<EquipmentModule ID="COMPRESSOR">
<Description>Compressor</Description>
</EquipmentModule>
</Unit>
</ProcessCell>
<MasterRecipe ID="DME_PLANT_RECIPE">
<Description>Master recipe for Dimethyl Ether</Description>
<ProductID>DIMETHYL_ETHER</ProductID>
<UnitProcedure ID="DME_PLANT_UP">
<Description>Unit procedure for synthesis</Description>
<Operation ID="OP_01">
<Description>Operation 1</Description>
<Phase ID="VAPORIZE">
<Description>Vaporize phase</Description>
<PhaseLogic>
<Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
<Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
<Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
</PhaseLogic>
</Phase>
</Operation>
<Operation ID="OP_02">
<Description>Operation 2</Description>
<Phase ID="DEHYDRATE">
<Description>Dehydrate phase</Description>
<PhaseLogic>
<Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
<Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
<Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
</PhaseLogic>
</Phase>
</Operation>
<Operation ID="OP_03">
<Description>Operation 3</Description>
<Phase ID="COOL">
<Description>Cool phase</Description>
<PhaseLogic>
<Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
<Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
<Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
</PhaseLogic>
</Phase>
</Operation>
<Operation ID="OP_04">
<Description>Operation 4</Description>
<Phase ID="SEPARATE">
<Description>Separate phase</Description>
<PhaseLogic>
<Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
<Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
<Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
</PhaseLogic>
</Phase>
</Operation>
<Operation ID="OP_05">
<Description>Operation 5</Description>
<Phase ID="DISTILL">
<Description>Distill phase</Description>
<PhaseLogic>
<Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
<Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
<Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
</PhaseLogic>
</Phase>
</Operation>
<Operation ID="OP_06">
<Description>Operation 6</Description>
<Phase ID="COMPRESS">
<Description>Compress phase</Description>
<PhaseLogic>
<Step ID="STEP_1"><Action>Initialize</Action></Step>
<Step ID="STEP_2"><Action>Execute</Action></Step>
<Step ID="STEP_3"><Action>Complete</Action></Step>
</PhaseLogic>
</Phase>
</Operation>
</UnitProcedure>
</MasterRecipe>
</BatchML>
Process CellPhysical grouping of all production equipment
UnitMajor equipment performing the synthesis
Equipment ModulesIndividual devices: reactors, columns, absorbers
PhasesLowest control level: REACT, SEPARATE, PURIFY
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