Production of Standard Alcohol Company’s E4™ ENVIROLENE® mixed alcohol fuel is a 24×7 continuous gas-to-liquids (GTL) process converting various carbon feedstocks of either renewable biomass or fossil fuels through two steps of existing technologies to produce mixed alcohol fuel. There is no need to plant, water, fertilizer, or harvest additional feedstocks. This diversity reaches all sectors of society in problem solving and sustainable fuel development.
Gas-To-Liquids (GTL)
E4 is produced using a standard fixed-bed methanization type of gas-to-liquids synthesis process in use since 1923. This GTL process is similar to conventional methanol production where synthesis gas (syngas = CO & H2) is selectively catalyzed to produce a blend of higher mixed alcohols. SACA’s proprietary catalyst is specific to the production of mixed alcohols within the Company’s patented formulas.
SACA utilizes two methods (click to show diagram) for creating the intermediate syngas, with both processes having unique advantages, and each feeding into the same GTL catalysis process to produce E4 mixed alcohol fuel.
Gasification of Waste Biomass, Coal, Petroleum Coke
Gasification is a process that cleanly converts carbonaceous materials into carbon monoxide and hydrogen by reacting the raw material at high temperatures with a controlled amount of oxygen and/or steam. The resulting syngas then feeds a fixed-bed GTL reactor containing SACA’s proprietary catalyst to produce E4.
Steam Reformation of Natural Gas
Steam Reformation converts any form of methane natural gas through cleaning and separation into elemental carbon monoxide and hydrogen syngas. Impurities or other elements such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2) are recycled or separated off in the reformation process. The syngas is then processed through the fixed-bed GTL reactor to produce E4 mixed alcohol fuel. This methane conversion process to E4 is the most economical method of producing the greatest domestic and global volume of fuel.
