Process for the preparation of middle distillates from syngas

A process for the preparation of middle distillates from a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, characterized in that a H.sub.2 and CO containing feed is contacted in the first step at elevated temperature and pressure with a catalyst comprising 3-60 pbw cobalt and 0.1-100 pbw of at least one other metal chosen from the group formed by zirconium, titanium and chromium per 100 pbw silica, alumina or silica-alumina, which catalyst has been prepared by kneading and/or impregnation and satisfies the relation ##EQU2## wherein L=the total quantity of cobalt present on the catalyst, expressed as mg Co/ml catalyst,

• S=the surface area of the catalyst, expressed as m.sup.2 /ml catalyst, and
• R=the weight ratio of the quantity of cobalt deposited on the catalyst by kneading to the total quantity of cobalt present on the catalyst, and that in a second step the total reaction product of the first step, without components being removed therefrom or component being added thereto, is subjected to a hydrocracking treatment by contacting it at an elevated temperature and a pressure which corresponds substantially with that used in the first step, with a catalyst comprising one or more noble metals of Group VIII supported on a carrier, the H.sub.2 /CO molar ratio of the feed and the reaction conditions of the first step being so chosen that the reaction product of the first step contains sufficient unconverted hydrogen for carrying out the hydrocracking reaction in the second step.