Process for the conversion of hydrocarbons to oxygenates

Abstract

Process for converting a hydrocarbon feedstock into alcohol(s), wherein the hydrocarbons are first converted into syngas, which is subsequently converted into alcohols. The process comprises the consecutive steps of 1) converting a hydrocarbon feedstock, in a syngas reactor, into a stream A, comprising essentially of a mixture of carbon oxide(s) and hydrogen, 2) converting at least part of stream A, in the presence of a catalyst in a oxygenate synthesis reactor under a temperature comprised between 150 and 400° C. and a pressure of 20 to 200 bar, into an alcohols stream B, comprising essentially methanol, ethanol, propanol(s), H2, C1-03 alkanes, CO, CO2 and water, 3) separating stream B, into a stream C containing the CO, C1-C3 alkanes, H2 and methanol; a stream D containing the CO2; and recovering a stream E containing the ethanol, propanol(s) and water, 4) treating a fraction of stream C in order to separate said fraction into a stream comprising CO, and a stream comprising H2 and the C1-C3 alkanes, 5) reintroducing at least part of stream C together with the stream comprising CO from step 4 into the oxygenate synthesis reactor of step 2, and 6) reintroducing at least part of stream D into the syngas reactor of step 1.