Process and apparatus for the production of methanol from condensed carbonaceous material

An intergrated recycle process for the production of methanol from a condensed carbonaceous feedstock selected from the group consisting of coal, biomass, wood, agricultural products and municipal solid wastes comprising:

• a) hydrogasifying said feedstock in a hydrogasification reactor with a recycled hydrogen rich gas stream to produce a process gas stream rich in methane;
• b) steam pyrolyzing said process gas stream in a second stage steam pyrolysis reactor in the presence of a catalyst to produce a synthesis gas containing mainly carbon monoxide and hydrogen with small amounts of carbon dioxide;
• c) reacting said carbon monoxide and hydrogen synthesis gas in a third stage methanol synthesis reactor in the presence of a catalyst to form a product gas stream containing methanol;
• d) removing said methanol from said product gas stream leaving product gas stream rich in hydrogen;
• and
• e) recycling said hydrogen rich product gas stream to supply the hydrogen needs for the above hydrogasifying step.