Process for producing purified synthesis gas

1. A process for producing purified synthesis gas from an initially cooled, soot-containing synthesis gas having a temperature of at least 5° C. above its dew point comprising the steps of (a) further cooling the soot-containing synthesis gas to a temperature below its dew point by indirect heat exchange in a shell-tube heat exchanger without removing condensate formed, thereby forming a synthesis gas/condensate mixture in which the condensate contains most of the soot and sour gas contaminates present in the synthesis gas; and (b) contacting the synthesis gas/condensate mixture with a scrubbing liquid to remove the condensate resulting in a purified synthesis gas and used scrubbing liquid, wherein the soot-containing synthesis gas in step (a) is passed through the shell-tube heat exchanger at the tube side.

2. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the soot-containing synthesis gas used as a feed to step (a) is prepared by gasification of a carbonaceous feedstock followed by an initial cooling of resulting hot soot-containing synthesis gas effluent to a temperature of at least 5° C. above its dew point.

3. A process according the claim 2 , wherein the initial cooling takes place by indirect heat exchange using water as a cooling medium to produce steam.

4. A process according to claim 1 , wherein in step (a) water is used as a cooling medium at the shell side of the shell-tube heat exchanger resulting in a heated water stream.

5. A process according to claim 4 , wherein the heated water stream is used as at least part of the water which is used as the cooling medium in the process.

6. A process-according to claim 1 , wherein in step (a) the soot-containing synthesis gas is cooled to a temperature which is in the range of from 5 to 25° C. below its dew point.

7. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the scrubbing liquid in step (b) is water.