Processes for making syngas-derived products

1. A process of making a syngas-derived product from a carbonaceous feedstock, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a carbonaceous feedstock;

(b)(i) reacting the carbonaceous feedstock in a gasification reactor in the presence of steam and a gasification catalyst under suitable temperature and pressure to form a raw product gas stream comprising a plurality of gases comprising methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and steam;

(b)(ii) removing steam and ammonia from and sweetening the raw product gas stream to form a sweetened gas stream;

(b)(iii) separating carbon monoxide and hydrogen from the sweetened gas stream to provide a synthesis gas stream and a methane gas stream, wherein the synthesis gas stream comprises hydrogen and carbon monoxide;

(c) conveying the synthesis gas stream to a syngas reaction zone;

(d) reacting the synthesis gas stream in the syngas reaction zone to form the syngas-derived product and heat energy;

(e) recovering the syngas-derived product; and

(f) recovering the heat energy formed from the reaction of the synthesis gas stream.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the heat energy is used to generate or heat steam.

3. The process of claim 2 , wherein the reaction of the synthesis gas further forms a combustible tail gas mixture; and wherein the combustible tail gas mixture is burned to further heat the steam.

4. The process of claim 3 , wherein the steam is driven through a turbine for the generation of electrical power.

5. The process of claim 2 , wherein the steam is used in step b(i).

6. A process of making a syngas-derived product from a carbonaceous feedstock, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a carbonaceous feedstock;

(b)(i) reacting the carbonaceous feedstock in a gasification reactor in the presence of steam and a gasification catalyst under suitable temperature and pressure to form a raw product gas stream comprising a plurality of gases comprising methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and steam;

(b)(ii) removing steam and ammonia from and sweetening the raw product gas stream to form a sweetened gas stream;

(b)(iii) separating carbon monoxide and hydrogen from the sweetened gas stream to provide a synthesis gas stream and a methane gas stream, wherein the synthesis gas stream comprises hydrogen and carbon monoxide;

(c) conveying the synthesis gas stream to a syngas reaction zone;

(d) reacting the synthesis gas stream in the syngas reaction zone to form the syngas-derived product and a combustible tail gas mixture;

(e) recovering the syngas-derived product; and

(f) burning the combustible tail gas mixture to provide heat energy.

7. The process of claim 6 , wherein the combustible tail gas mixture is burned to heat steam.

8. The process of claim 7 , wherein the steam is driven through a turbine for the generation of electrical power.

9. The process of claim 7 , wherein the steam is used in step b(i).

10. A process of making a syngas-derived product from a carbonaceous feedstock, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a carbonaceous feedstock;

(b)(i) reacting the carbonaceous feedstock in a gasification reactor in the presence of steam and a gasification catalyst under suitable temperature and pressure to form a raw product gas stream comprising a plurality of gases comprising methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and steam;

(b)(ii) removing steam and ammonia from and sweetening the raw product gas stream to form a sweetened gas stream;

(b)(iii) reforming the sweetened gas stream to form a synthesis gas stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide;

(c) conveying the synthesis gas stream to a syngas reaction zone;

(d) reacting the synthesis gas stream in the syngas reaction zone to form the syngas-derived product and heat energy;

(e) recovering the syngas-derived product; and

(f) recovering the heat energy formed from the reaction of the synthesis gas stream.

11. The process of claim 10 , wherein the heat energy is used to generate or heat steam.

12. The process of claim 11 , wherein the reaction of the synthesis gas further forms a combustible tail gas mixture; and wherein the combustible tail gas mixture is burned to further heat the steam.

13. The process of claim 12 , wherein the steam is driven through a turbine for the generation of electrical power.

14. The process of claim 11 , wherein the steam is used in step b(i).

15. A process of making a syngas-derived product from a carbonaceous feedstock, the process comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a carbonaceous feedstock;

(b)(i) reacting the carbonaceous feedstock in a gasification reactor in the presence of steam and a gasification catalyst under suitable temperature and pressure to form a raw product gas stream comprising a plurality of gases comprising methane, hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and steam;

(b)(ii) removing steam and ammonia from and sweetening the raw product gas stream to form a sweetened gas stream;

(b)(iii) reforming the sweetened gas stream to form a synthesis gas stream comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide;

(c) conveying the synthesis gas stream to a syngas reaction zone;

(d) reacting the synthesis gas stream in the syngas reaction zone to form the syngas-derived product and a combustible tail gas mixture;

(e) recovering the syngas-derived product; and

(f) burning the combustible tail gas mixture to provide heat energy.

16. The process of claim 15 , wherein the combustible tail gas mixture is burned to heat steam.

17. The process of claim 16 , wherein the steam is driven through a turbine for the generation of electrical power.

18. The process of claim 16 , wherein the steam is used in step b(i).