Process for the synthesis of a methanol/dimethyl ether mixture from synthesis gas

A process for the production of a DME/methanol product mixture rich in DME from a make-up stream of an essentially stoichiometrically balanced synthesis gas comprising H2/CO/CO2, comprising the process steps of:

• (a) splitting a bypass stream from the synthesis gas stream prior to passing the synthesis gas stream through a cooled reactor containing a catalyst active in methanol formation from synthesis gas, forming an effluent stream enriched in methanol and admixing with the said bypass stream;
• (b) bringing the admixed stream from step (a) in contact with a catalyst active in methanol formation or active in both methanol formation and dehydration of methanol, forming a synthesis gas stream further enriched in methanol or DME;
• (c) bringing the gas stream further enriched in methanol or DME from step (b) in contact with a catalyst active in dehydration of methanol, forming a synthesis gas stream further enriched in DME;
• (d) withdrawing the synthesis gas stream enriched in DME from step (c) and separating the stream into a DME/methanol product mixture rich in DME and a synthesis gas containing stream;
• and
• (e) recycling a portion of the synthesis gas containing stream to the make-up stream of synthesis gas, forming the synthesis gas stream of step (a).