Process for the production of aromatic hydrocarbons incorporating by-product utilization

A process for the production of aromatic hydrocarbons from a feedstock comprising ethane and/or propane and/or butane which process comprises the steps of:

• (A) reacting the feedstock in the presence of a dehydrocyclodimerisation catalyst to produce a product comprising aromatic hydrocarbons, hydrogen and methane,
• (B) separating the product of step (A) into an aromatic hydrocarbon fraction, a methane-rich gaseous fraction and a hydrogen-rich gaseous fraction,
• (C) feeding all or part of the methane-rich gaseous fraction separated in step (B) to a synthesis gas production unit, thereby to produce synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a ratio less than or equal to 2:1, and
• (D) contacting the synthesis gas from step (C) together with all or part of the hydrogen-rich gaseous fraction separated in step (B), thereby increasing the hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio of the synthesis gas to a value greater than 2:1, with a Fischer-Tropsch conversion catalyst to produce a hydrocarbon product.