LAPSE:2025.0222
Published Article

LAPSE:2025.0222
Simulation of Decarbonization of Natural Gas to Methanol Conversion Process Using Microwave-Assisted Dry Reforming with Integrated Chemical Looping for Hydrogen Production
June 27, 2025
Abstract
In this research, a chemical looping scheme is combined with dry reforming of natural gas in a novel microwave reactor to produce industrial quantity of methanol. Simulation results show that the chemical looping scheme can produce all the hydrogen required by the methanol reactor as well as a significant portion of the carbon dioxide required for the syngas reactor. A heat exchanger network is developed to substantially reduce the hot and cold utility usage. A technoeconomic analysis indicates a significant positive net present value along with a substantial reduction in carbon dioxide emissions as well as a reduction in energy consumption.
In this research, a chemical looping scheme is combined with dry reforming of natural gas in a novel microwave reactor to produce industrial quantity of methanol. Simulation results show that the chemical looping scheme can produce all the hydrogen required by the methanol reactor as well as a significant portion of the carbon dioxide required for the syngas reactor. A heat exchanger network is developed to substantially reduce the hot and cold utility usage. A technoeconomic analysis indicates a significant positive net present value along with a substantial reduction in carbon dioxide emissions as well as a reduction in energy consumption.
Record ID
Keywords
Carbon-neutral methanol synthesis, Chemical looping, CO2 utilization, Decarbonization technologies, Microwave-assisted dry reforming
Subject
Suggested Citation
Almaraz O, Palanki S, Hu J. Simulation of Decarbonization of Natural Gas to Methanol Conversion Process Using Microwave-Assisted Dry Reforming with Integrated Chemical Looping for Hydrogen Production. Systems and Control Transactions 4:444-449 (2025) https://doi.org/10.69997/sct.198661
Author Affiliations
Almaraz O: 1Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, West Virginia University,
Palanki S: 1Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, West Virginia University,
Hu J: 1Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, West Virginia University,
Palanki S: 1Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, West Virginia University,
Hu J: 1Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, West Virginia University,
Journal Name
Systems and Control Transactions
Volume
4
First Page
444
Last Page
449
Year
2025
Publication Date
2025-07-01
Version Comments
Original Submission
Other Meta
PII: 0444-0449-1131-SCT-4-2025, Publication Type: Journal Article
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Published Article

LAPSE:2025.0222
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https://doi.org/10.69997/sct.198661
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[v1] (Original Submission)
Jun 27, 2025
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Links to Related Works
References Cited
- Market Research (2023). Methanol Market by Feedstock (Natural Gas, Coal, Biomass), https://www.marketresearch.com/MarketsandMarkets-v3719/Methanol-Feedstock-Natural-Gas-Coal-30408866/ (accessed 04.04.23)
- G. Aimiuwu, E. Osagie and O. Omoregbe (2020) Process simulation for the production of methanol via CO2 reforming of methane route. Chemical Product and Process Modeling. 17:69-79 https://doi.org/10.1515/cppm-2020-0049
- T. T. P. Pham, K. S. Ro, L. Chen, D. Mahajan, T. J. Siang, U. P. M. Ashik, J. Hayashi, D. P. Minh, D. N. Vo (2020). Microwave-assisted dry reforming of methane for syngas production: a review. Environmental Chemistry Letters 18(6): 1987-2019 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-020-01055-0
- M. E. Haque, N. Tripathi, and S. Palanki (2021). Development of an Integrated Process Plant for the Conversion of Shale Gas to Propylene Glycol. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research. 60 (1):399-411 https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.iecr.0c02792
- Riley, J., Bobek, M., Atallah, C., Siriwardane, R., Bayham, S. "Syngas and H2 Production from Natural Gas using CaFe2O4 Looping: Experimental and Thermodynamic Integrated Process Assessment," U.S. Department of Energy, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Almaraz, O., Palanki, S., & Hu, J. (2024). Process Design of Carbon-Neutral Routes for Methanol Synthesis. Computer Aided Chemical Engineering, 53, 97-102. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-28824-1.50017-X
- Turton R, Shaeiwitz JA, Bhattacharyya D, Whiting WB. Analysis, synthesis, and design of chemical processes. fifth ed. Pearson Education; 2018
- Almaraz, O. & Palanki, S., Decarbonization of Methanol Production Process. International Congress on Sustainability Science and Engineering (ICOSSE) 2025, Auckland, NZ, February 20-22, 2025
- Huang, Q., Wang, Y., & Zhu, X. (2021). "Microwave-assisted dry reforming of methane to syngas: A review of catalyst development and process optimization." Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 138, Article 110520
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