Dimethyl Ether

European Biofuels

Biofuel Fact Sheet

TECHNOLOGY PLATFORM

Dimethyl ether (DME) Lab scale

Bench scale

Pilot Plant

Demonstration

Production

Introduction Dimethyl ether (typically abbreviated as DME), also known as methoxymethane, wood ether, dimethyl oxide or methyl ether, is the simplest ether. It is a colourless, slightly narcotic, nontoxic, highly ammable gas at ambient conditions, but can be handled as a liquid when lightly pressurized. The properties o DME are similar to those o Liqueed Petroleum Gas (LPG). DME is degradable in the atmosphere and is not a greenhouse gas. See page two or Production Process.

Applications Due to its good ignition quality, with a high cetane number, DME can be used in diesel engines as a substitute or conventional diesel uel. However, compared to diesel uel DME has a lower viscosity (insucient), and poor lubricity. Like LPG or gasoline engines, DME is s tored in the liquid state under relatively low pressure o 0.5 MPa. This helps to limit the number o modications required to the engine. Still, some slight engine modications are necessary, primarily relating to the injection pump and the installation o a pressure tank, similar to that or LPG. The uel line must also be adapted with specic elastomers.

Molecular Formula

C2H6O / CH3OCH3 H3C

O

CH3

Comparison of Fuel Properties Property

DME

Diesel

Density at 20 °C [kg/l]*

0.67

0.83

Lower heating value [MJ/kg]*

28.4

43.1

60

50

0.59

1

Cetane number* Fuel equivalence* GHG [gCO2eq/ MJ]**

Farmed wood DME: 7

DME in diesel engine burns very cleanly with no soot.  The inrastructure o LPG can be used or DME. As part o the FP7 project BioDME, under the leadership o the Volvo Group, Group, DME production is being optimized, especially or use as a transport uel.

European Projects on DME BioDME - Production o DME rom Biomass Bi omass and utilisation as uel or transport and or industrial use. Funded by 7th Framework Programme and Swedish Energy Agency.

Waste wood DME: 5

Source: FNR 2012. * Median values are used or simplifcation. Please reer to the standards or ranges. ** Directive 2009/28/EC, total or cultivation, processing, transport and distribution

Utilization Substitute or diesel uel; transportation uel; power generation uel; domestic gas

Relevant fuel regulations EN590 (diesel uel)

Main feedstocks Forest products, agricultural by-products, organic waste, energy crops, black liquor

Scale of Production Demonstration scale

Dimethyl ether (DME) Production process

Biofuel Fact Sheet State of the Art

DME is primarily produced by converting natural gas, organic  The DME demonstration plant in Piteå, Sweden, which was waste or biomass to synthesis gas (syngas). The syngas is then put into operation in 2010, is the only gasication plant converted into DME via a two-step synthesis, rst to methanol worldwide producing high-quality synthesis gas based on in the presence o catalyst (usually copper-based), and then 100% renewable eedstocks. The raw material used is black  by subsequent methanol dehydration in the presence o a liquor, a high-energy residual product o chemical paper and diferent catalyst (or example, silica-alumina) into DME. pulp manuacture which is usually burnt to recover the spent  The ollowing reactions occur: 2H2+ CO

CH3OH

2CH3OH

CH3OCH3 + H2O

CO+H2O

CO2+H2

sulphur.

Alternatively, DME can be produced through direct synthesis using a dual-catalyst system which permits both methanol synthesis and dehydration in the same process unit, with no intermediate methanol separation, a procedure that, by eliminating the intermediate methanol synthesis stage, the licensors claim promises eciency advantages and cost benets. Both the one-step and two-step processes are commercially available. DME can also be converted itsel into olens and synthetic hydrocarbons. BioDME plant with DME log truck in oreground © Chemrec 2011

Major stakeholders Volvo Group, Sweden Chemrec, Piteå, Sweden Haldor Topsøe, Kgs. Denmark 

Further information Up-to-date inormation on Diemethyl ether DME R&D&D is available on the Euorpean Biouels Technology Platorm website www.biofuelstp.eu.

Preem, Sweden  Total, France

All trademarks, registered designs, copyrights and other proprietary rights o the organisations mentioned within this document are acknowledged. While the inormation in this act sheet is believed to be accurate, neither EBTP members nor the European Commission, accept any responsibility or liability whatsoever or any errors or omissions herein nor any use to which this inormation is put. The Secretariat o the EBTP is partly supported under FP7 Grant Agreement 241269. However, the inormation expressed on this act sheet should not under any circumstances be regarded as stating an ocial position o the European Commission. Design and content o this act sheet are copyright © European Biouels Technology Platorm 2011.