Process for upgrading water used in cooling and cleaning of raw

Abstract

This process relates to the upgrading of at least one stream of condensate water by removing water soluble gaseous impurities from the group consisting of HCN, COS, HCOOH, and mixtures thereof as produced in a process for the production of synthesis gas by the partial oxidation of solid carbonaceous fuel and/or liquid hydrocarbonaceous fuel. In the process, at least one internally produced condensate stream of water containing the aforesaid water soluble gaseous impurities is mixed with and vaporized into a stream of synthesis gas. The vaporized mixture is then introduced into at least one bed of catalyst where the gaseous impurities are removed by hydrolysis. The upgraded water stream is then recycled in the process for use in cooling and/or scrubbing the hot raw effluent gas stream from a partial oxidation gas generator. The condensate water streams are obtained by (i) cooling a portion of the cooled and scrubbed effluent stream of synthesis gas to below the dew point temperature; and/or (ii) cooling and flashing a portion of the quench water used to quench cool and clean the hot raw effluent stream of synthesis gas thereby producing a gaseous mixture comprising H.sub.2 O, HCN, COS, HCOOH, and mixtures thereof and cooling said gaseous mixture to condense out and separate condensed water containing said water soluble gaseous impurities.