Ethylene from Synthesis Gas

The economics of producing 1,000 million lb/yr of ethylene by direct Fischer-Tropsch synthesis from coal-derived synthesis gas are presented. The economics are compared with those of gas oil cracking and those of conversion of methanol to olefins; in all cases, a consistent set of feed and by-product prices has been used.

The economics for ethylene by direct synthesis are more favorable than those for the methanol route, throughout the time frame considered.

These results must be considered as speculative at present as this work is based on a single patent. Considerable R&D work still needs to be done before a conclusion can be reached on this subject.