Process for the conversion of hydrocarbons into ethanol

Process for the conversion of a carbonaceous feedstock(s) into ethanol, wherein the carbonaceous feedstock is first converted into synthesis gas, which is subsequently converted into ethanol comprising the following steps:

• 1) introducing a carbonaceous feedstock into a synthesis gas reactor to produce a mixture of carbon oxide(s) and H2,
• 2) introducing CO and H2, from step 1, together with methyl ethanoate and/or ethyl ethanoate, into an alcohol synthesis unit to produce methanol and ethanol,
• 3) separating the methanol from the ethanol of step 2,
• 4) introducing methanol, from step 3, together with CO, into a carbonylation unit in the presence of a methanol carbonylation catalyst, to produce ethanoic acid,
• 5) introducing ethanoic acid, from step 4, together with methanol and/or ethanol, into an esterification unit to produce methyl ethanoate and/or ethyl ethanoate,
• 6) feeding methyl ethanoate and/or ethyl ethanoate, produced in step 5, into the alcohol synthesis unit of step 2, and
• 7) recovering ethanol from step 3.