Haldor Topsøe A/S (Lyngby, Denmark; www.topsoe.com) has delivered licensed process technology, basic engineering, catalysts and services for the first greenfield methanol plant in the U.S. in many years. Located in Clear Lake, Texas, the plant is a 50/50 joint venture between Celanese Corp. and Mitsui & Co., formally known as Fairway Methanol LLC, and has an annual capacity of 1.3 million metric tons.
The methanol plant uses Topsoe’s two-step reforming technology, including its state-of-the-art autothermal reforming (ATR) technology, as well as a proprietary waste heat boiler design.
The methanol plant is also equipped with Topsoe pollution control, including SCR and CATOX technologies to keep emissions of NOx and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in compliance with U.S. environmental regulations.