Processes for the production of hydrocarbons, power and carbon dioxide from carbon-containing materials

A process for producing power, carbon dioxide and hydrocarbons having an average H:C atom ratio of 2 or greater from carbon-bearing feedstocks having an H:C atom ratio of less than 2, comprising the steps of:

• a) reacting a carbon-bearing feedstock with an oxidizing gas and steam in a partial oxidation reactor to produce a mixture of gases containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide having a molar ratio of H2:CO of greater than 0.6;
• b) reacting the mixture of gases containing hydrogen and carbon monoxide in a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reactor containing a catalyst which catalyzes both hydrocarbon-forming reactions and the water gas shift reaction;
• c) condensing the product hydrocarbons from unreacted hydrogen, carbon monoxide and other gases (tail gases);
• d) separating the product hydrocarbons into naphtha, diesel and wax fractions;
• e) removing at least a portion of carbon dioxide from the tail gases;
• and
• f) producing steam from heat recovered from at least said partial oxidation reactor and said Fischer-Tropsch reactor, directing the steam to the steam turbine of a combined cycle plant, and directing at least the tail gases to the gas turbine of said combined cycle plant to produce power, wherein the process is operated to selectively maximize the production of at least one of the products power, Fischer-Tropsch hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide.