Too Bad About the Name | Green Energy News

February 22, 2004 – Vol.8 No.48

TOO BAD ABOUT THE NAME.

Dimethyl ether (DME) sounds like a deadly, toxic chemical, but it isn’t. Names can be deceiving. DME has much in its favor.

It is considered non-toxic. A study in 2002 by chemical company Dupont concluded that DME does not pose a health threat when inhaled at low levels. It has not been shown to cause birth defects, gene mutations or cancer.

It is easy to handle. Similar to propane, and can be used as an alternative to it, DME is a liquid under pressure, a vapor at atmospheric pressure.

It can be derived from a variety of hydrocarbon materials, renewable sources, natural gas, even coal.

It generates no sulfur oxides or particulates during combustion. It can be used in power plants and vehicles, even as a source of hydrogen for fuel cells.

It can replace diesel fuel, though DME/diesel fuel systems are a problem area.

And many people use DME every day - but don’t know it. It’s the propellant in many aerosol products such as hair spray.

But, while DME has undergone research in the U.S., the fuel remains low on the radar screen as a possible clean and green fuel.

However in Japan, full scale production is growing nearer with the completion of tests of a 100-ton-per-day direct synthesis demonstration plant. The plant built by DME Development, a consortium of ten companies including Hitachi, Total, Marubeni and others, has achieved the highest production capacity of any DME facility in the world.

After 46 days of testing the plant was shut down for inspection and evaluation. Another trial run is set for June 2004. If all goes well with that test DME Development will conduct further development towards the goal of commercialization. For DME Development visit JFE Holdings at http://www.jfe-holdings.co.jp/