Process for a reduction in the amount of sulphur compounds, hydrogen cyanide, and formic acid in synthesis gas

1. A process for a reduction in the amount of sulphur compounds, hydrogen cyanide, formic acid and formic acid derivatives in synthesis gas comprising these compounds, the process comprising the steps of:

contacting the synthesis gas with a sulphur absorbent comprising material and thereafter with a catalyst comprising one or more metals selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, copper, palladium, platinum and their mixtures and supported on a carrier comprising at least one of the oxides of scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, titanium, zirconium, aluminium, zinc, chromium and molybdenum, to reduce the amount of the sulphur compounds from the synthesis gas; and

subsequently, converting hydrogen cyanide to ammonia and carbon dioxide, and converting formic acid and its derivatives to carbon dioxide and hydrogen, to reduce the amount of the hydrogen cyanide, formic acid and formic acid derivatives in the synthesis gas,

wherein the steps of reducing the amount of sulphur compounds, hydrogen cyanide, formic acid and formic acid derivatives in the synthesis gas take place without promoting methanation or water gas shift reaction.

2. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the sulphur absorbent comprising material comprises zinc oxide or titanium oxide or their mixtures.

3. A process according to claim 2 , wherein the sulphur absorbent comprising material comprises zinc oxide promoted with alumina.

4. A process according to claim 2 , wherein the catalyst comprises silver supported on an oxide of zinc and the sulphur absorbent comprising material comprises zinc oxide.

5. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the sulphur absorbent comprising material comprises zinc oxide and the catalyst comprises silver supported on a carrier comprising at least one of the oxides of titanium and zirconium.

6. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the synthesis gas is contacted with the sulphur absorbent comprising material and thereafter the catalyst at temperatures ranging from 150° C. to 400° C. and pressures ranging from 1-100 bars.

7. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the synthesis gas after reduction of the amount of sulphur compounds, hydrogen cyanide, formic acid and formic acid derivatives, is cooled and separated into a cleaned synthesis gas stream and a condensate stream.

8. A process according to claim 1 , wherein the catalyst is produced by impregnation of the carrier with the one or more metals followed by drying and calcining, or by mixing and kneading the carrier with the one or more metals followed by extrusion and calcination.

9. A process according to claim 8 , wherein the one or more metals are in the form of an aqueous solution.

10. A process for the preparation of methanol, dimethyl ether and/or hydrocarbons in gaseous or liquid form from synthesis gas, the process comprising the steps of:

contacting synthesis gas comprising sulphur compounds, hydrogen cyanide, formic acid and formic acid derivatives, with a sulphur absorbent comprising material and thereafter with a catalyst comprising one or more metals selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, copper, palladium, platinum and their mixtures and supported on a carrier comprising at least one of the oxides of scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, titanium, zirconium, aluminium, zinc, chromium and molybdenum, to reduce the amount of the sulphur compounds from the synthesis gas;

subsequently, converting hydrogen cyanide to ammonia and carbon dioxide, and converting formic acid and its derivatives to carbon dioxide and hydrogen to obtain a synthesis gas from which the amount of sulphur compounds, hydrogen cyanide, formic acid and formic acid derivatives has been reduced; and

further processing the obtained synthesis gas to methanol, dimethyl ether and/or hydrocarbons in gaseous or liquid form,

wherein the steps of reducing the amount of sulphur compounds, hydrogen cyanide, formic acid and formic acid derivatives in the synthesis gas take place without promoting methanation or water gas shift reaction.

11. A process for the preparation of hydrocarbons in liquid form from synthesis gas, the process comprising the steps of:

contacting synthesis gas comprising sulphur compounds, hydrogen cyanide, formic acid and formic acid derivatives, with a sulphur absorbent comprising material and thereafter with a catalyst comprising one or more metals selected from the group consisting of silver, gold, copper, palladium, platinum and their mixtures and supported on a carrier comprising at least one of the oxides of scandium, yttrium, lanthanum, cerium, titanium, zirconium, aluminium, zinc, chromium and molybdenum, to reduce the amount of the sulphur compounds from the synthesis gas;

subsequently, converting hydrogen cyanide to ammonia and carbon dioxide, and converting formic acid and its derivatives to carbon dioxide and hydrogen to obtain a synthesis gas from which the amount of sulphur compounds, hydrogen cyanide, formic acid and formic acid derivatives has been reduced; and

further processing the obtained synthesis gas to hydrocarbons in liquid form by the Fischer-Tropsch process,

wherein the steps of reducing the amount of sulphur compounds, hydrogen cyanide, formic acid and formic acid derivatives in the synthesis gas take place without promoting methanation or water gas shift reaction.