Hydrogen rejection in methanol to hydrocarbon process with bifunctional catalyst

A process for production of hydrocarbons comprising the steps of

• converting a feed stream comprising alcohols, ethers or mixtures hereof over a bifunctional catalyst comprising zeolite, alumina binder and Zn, wherein the Zn is present at least partly as ZnAl2O4, in a conversion step thereby obtaining a conversion effluent including hydrogen,
• separating said effluent to obtain an aqueous process condensate stream, a liquid hydrocarbon stream and a gaseous stream,
• removing part of the hydrogen formed in the conversion step, and
• recycling at least part of the gaseous and/or liquid hydrocarbon stream to the conversion step, wherein:
• the at least partially H2 depleted recycle stream is obtained from the gaseous stream by passing said gaseous phase, after admixture with a predetermined amount of dioxygen, to a catalytic oxidation step, where hydrogen is reacted with said predetermined amount of oxygen to form water, and recycling said reacted stream, at least partly depleted in hydrogen, to the conversion step;
• and/or
• the at least partly H2 depleted recycle stream is obtained from the gaseous stream by passing said gaseous phase, after admixture with a predetermined amount of a non-dioxygen hydrogen scavenger, to a catalytic oxidation step, where hydrogen is reacted with said predetermined amount oxidizing agent, and recycling said reacted stream, at least partly depleted in hydrogen, to the conversion step.