Process for recycling and purifying condensate from a hydrocarbon or alcohol synthesis process

Abstract

This invention relates to a process of recycling condensate from a hydrocarbon or alcohol synthesis, wherein the condensate comprises water and contaminants such as lower molecular weight hydrocarbons, alcohols, and other oxygenates. A hot gaseous mixture comprising CH 4 and steam contacts the condensate so as to strip the contaminants from the condensate. The stripped contaminants, CH 4 , and steam are separately recovered as a gaseous stream from the remaining purified water. The recovered CH 4 -containing gaseous stream may be used in synthesis gas (CO/H 2 ) generation processes with the generated synthesis gas then being used in a hydrocarbon synthesis process to produce heavy hydrocarbons.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A process for purifying a condensate stream from a hydrocarbon synthesis or alcohol synthesis process which comprises: 
       (a) contacting the condensate with a hot gaseous mixture comprising methane and steam to strip contaminants from the condensate, said contaminants comprising lower molecular weight hydrocarbons and oxygenates;  
       (b) recovering a gaseous stream comprising the contaminants and the gaseous mixture; and  
       (c) separately recovering purified water.  
     
     
       2. The process of claim  1  wherein the recovered hydrocarbon-containing gaseous stream of step (b) is the feedgas to a synthesis gas generation process. 
     
     
       3. The process of claim  2  wherein the recovered hydrocarbon-containing gaseous stream comprises CH 4 . 
     
     
       4. The process of claim  3  wherein the synthesis gas generation process comprises the catalytic conversion of the recovered CH 4 -containing gaseous stream with oxygen and steam to make synthesis gas. 
     
     
       5. The process of claim  4  wherein the catalytic conversion is effected with a fluidized bed of catalyst. 
     
     
       6. The process of claim  5  wherein the catalyst is a nickel catalyst. 
     
     
       7. A process for producing heavy hydrocarbons and a condensate stream wherein said condensate stream is purified by the process of claim  1 . 
     
     
       8. The process of claim  7  wherein said heavy hydrocarbons comprise C 5+    hydrocarbons.   
     
     
       9. A process for synthesizing hydrocarbons or alcohol and a condensate stream which comprises purifying said condensate stream utilizing the process of claim  1 . 
     
     
       10. The process of claim  9  wherein said hydrocarbons or alcohols comprise C 1+    hydrocarbons and oxygenates.