Methods, systems, and catalysts for the direct conversion of syngas to high-octane hydrocarbons

1. A method comprising:

converting a gas stream comprising hydrogen (H 2 ) and carbon monoxide (CO) to a mixture comprising a hydrocarbon having between 3 and 15 carbon atoms, wherein:

the converting is performed using a first catalyst configured to convert H 2 and CO to methanol, a second catalyst configured to convert methanol to dimethyl ether (DME), and a third catalyst configured to convert DME to the hydrocarbon;

the first catalyst and the second catalyst are physically mixed in a first catalyst bed and the third catalyst is positioned in a second catalyst bed;

the first catalyst bed and second catalyst bed are contained in a single stacked packed-bed reactor in series;

the first catalyst comprises copper-zinc oxide-alumina (CZA);

the second catalyst comprises gamma alumina (A); and

the third catalyst comprises copper modified BEA zeolite (Cu/BEA).

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the Cu/BEA catalyst comprises a beta zeolite having a silica to alumina ratio between about 20:1 and about 300:1.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the copper in the third catalyst is present at a concentration between about 1 wt % and about 20 wt %, relative to the total weight of the third catalyst.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first catalyst and the second catalyst are present at a ratio between about 1:1 and about 8:1.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the second catalyst and the third catalyst are present at a ratio between about 0.1:1 and about 5:2.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the gas stream further comprises carbon dioxide (CO 2 ).

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the gas stream has a concentration of carbon dioxide greater than or equal to 10 mol %.