Quenching of ZnO-char gasification

A process for the gasification of solid carbon containing materials which comprises:

• (a) heating in an entrainment bed reaction means under endothermic reaction conditions finely divided carbon containing particles with finely divided zinc oxide employing as heat source hot entraining sweep gas, thereby producing a hot gaseous stream comprising zinc, carbon monoxide, and traces of carbon dioxide,
• (b) quenching said hot gaseous stream with cool recycle carbon monoxide, thereby condensing said zinc as molten zinc metal while avoiding substantially the formation of blue powder, and producing an off-gas stream of hot carbon monoxide,
• (c) reoxidizing said molten zinc by contact with air in oxidation contactor means, thereby producing finely divided zinc oxide for recycle to said step (a), and nitrogen as a second off-gas stream,
• (d) further heating a portion of said off-gas stream of hot carbon monoxide from said step (b) by indirect heat exchange with said oxidation contactor means step (c), thereby producing said hot entraining sweep gas for recycle to said step (a) to provide heat thereto,
• (e) cooling by indirect heat exchange means a further portion of said hot off-gas carbon monoxide stream from said step (b) to provide said cool carbon monoxide quench gas, and
• (f) withdrawing a further portion of carbon monoxide gas as product.