Dimethyl Ether Production from Natural Gas & CO2 (Direct Method)
Dimethyl Ether Production Costs Report | Issue G | Q3 2024
Report Details |
110 kta United States-based plant | Q3 2024 | 107 pages |
This report presents a cost analysis of a 110 kta (kilo metric ton per annum) United States-based plant. You can add a customized cost analysis, assuming another location (country), when ordering a premium edition of this report.
Report Abstract
The report presents the economics of Dimethyl Ether (DME) production from natural gas and carbon dioxide (CO2). In the process under analysis, natural gas is reformed with CO2 yielding synthesis gas (syngas). Syngas is then fed to a one-step process for DME generation - syngas conversion into methanol and methanol dehydration into DME are carried out in a single reaction step. The economic analysis performed assumes a plant located in the United States.
The report provides a comprehensive study of Dimethyl Ether production and related Dimethyl Ether production cost, covering three key aspects: a complete description of the Dimethyl Ether production process examined; an in-depth analysis of the related Dimethyl Ether plant capital cost (Capex); and an evaluation of the respective Dimethyl Ether plant operating costs (Opex).
The Dimethyl Ether production process description includes a block flow diagram (BFD), an overview of the industrial site installations, detailing both the process unit and the necessary infrastructure, process consumption figures and comprehensive process flow diagrams (PFD). The Dimethyl Ether plant capital cost analysis breaks down the Capex by plant cost (i.e., ISBL, OSBL and Contingency); owner's cost; working capital; and costs incurred during industrial plant commissioning and start-up. The Dimethyl Ether plant operating costs analysis covers operating expenses, including variable costs like raw materials and utilities, and fixed costs such as maintenance, labor, and depreciation.
Process Schematic

The process under analysis comprises three major sections: (1) Syngas Production; (2) DME Synthesis; and (3) Purification.
Syngas Production. Natural gas feedstock is treated in zinc oxide beds, for removing sulfur compounds, and in a pre-reformer (fixed-bed-type reactor), that converts higher hydrocarbons contained in the feed gas into a gas rich in methane and hydrogen, in order to protect the catalysts. Then, the treated gas is fed to a dry reformer, in which the methane reacts catalytically with CO2, generating CO and H2 (syngas). The reformer outlet stream is cooled, compressed and then fed to absorption column for the separation of unconverted CO2 by means of a methanol wash.
DME synthesis. The syngas is then fed to a fixed-bed synthesis reactor, in which it is directly converted to DME. Such direct synthesis of DME is carried out in the presence of a bifunctional zeolite-based catalyst system (Cu-Zn-Al/ZSM-5 catalyst). The reactor outlet gas is mainly comprised of DME, methanol, CO2 and unconverted hydrogen and CO.
Purification. The effluent from DME synthesis is cooled, and DME and methanol are separated from the gases by condensation. The separated gas is partially recycled to the DME synthesis, with a small purge. The DME-methanol condensate stream is then passed through distillation columns. In the CO2 column, carbon dioxide is removed from the DME and recycled to the dry reforming. In the DME column, DME product is purified from methanol and directed to storage facilities located outside battery limits. Finally, wastewater is separated in the methanol column and the methanol obtained is recycled to the DME synthesis.
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Production Process Information
Process Consumptions
Labor Requirements
Plant Capital Cost Summary
Operating Cost Summary
Production Costs Datasheet
Plant Capital Cost Details
Operating Cost Details
Plant Cost Breakdowns
Plant Capacity Assessment
Process Flow Diagrams
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Content Highlights
Plant Capital Cost Summary
Summary outlining the capital cost required for building the Dimethyl Ether production plant examined
Plant Capital Cost Details
Detailing of fixed capital (ISBL, OSBL & Owner’s Cost), working capital and additional capital requirements
Plant Cost Breakdowns
Breakdown of Dimethyl Ether process unit (ISBL) costs and infrastructure (OSBL) costs; plant cost breakdown per discipline
Operating Costs Summary
Summary presenting the operating variable costs and the total operating cost of the Dimethyl Ether production plant studied
Operating Cost Details
Detailing of utilities costs, operating fixed costs and depreciation
Plant Capacity Assessment
Comparative analysis of capital investment and operating costs for different Dimethyl Ether plant capacities
Production Process Information
Block Flow Diagram, descriptions of process unit (ISBL) and site infrastructure (OSBL)
Process Consumptions
Raw materials and utilities consumption figures, by-products credits, labor requirements
Process Diagrams
Process flow diagrams (PFD), equipment list and industrial site configuration
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Dimethyl Ether Production from Natural Gas & CO2 (Indirect Method)
This report presents the economics of Dimethyl Ether (DME) production from natural gas and carbon dioxide (CO2) in the United States. The process under analysis comprises the reforming of natural gas with CO2 for generating synthesis gas (syngas). Syngas, in turn, is used as feed for the two-step DME synthesis - the gas is first converted into methanol and methanol intermediate is dehydrated into DME in a different reactor after methanol purification.
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The cost analyses presented in this report target a 130 kta (kilo metric ton per annum per annum) United States-based plant. For those interested in cost analyses considering other plant capacities and/or locations, Intratec offers a customized analysis as an optional feature.
Dimethyl Ether from CO2-Rich Natural Gas (CO2 Removal Pre-Treatment)
This report presents the economics of Dimethyl Ether (DME) production from natural gas with high CO2 content in the United States. The process under analysis consists of four major steps. The first step comprises an amine treatement of natural gas for the removal of CO2. In the second step, natural gas is fed to a combined reforming process producing synthesis gas (syngas) which is, subsequently, converted into methanol. The final step consists of the catalytic dehydration of methanol to generate DME.
Details: 1,020 kta United States-based plant | Q3 2024 | 107 pages | Issue I From $5,000 USD
The cost analyses presented in this report target a 1,020 kta (kilo metric ton per annum per annum) United States-based plant. For those interested in cost analyses considering other plant capacities and/or locations, Intratec offers a customized analysis as an optional feature.
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