Patent ID: 7012102

Claim:
A process for the conversion of synthesis gas to hydrocarbons comprising contacting the synthesis gas at elevated temperature and pressure with a suspension of a particulate Fischer-Tropsch catalyst in a liquid medium in a Fischer-Tropsch reactor system comprising at least one high shear mixing zone and a reactor vessel wherein the process comprises: a) passing the suspension through the high shear mixing zone(s) where the synthesis gas is mixed with the suspension; b) discharging a mixture comprising the synthesis gas and the suspension from the high shear mixing zone(s) into the reactor vessel; c) in the reactor vessel, converting the synthesis gas to hydrocarbons comprising gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons to form a product suspension comprising the catalyst suspended in the liquid medium and the liquid hydrocarbons; d) in a gas separation zone, separating a gaseous phase comprising saturated gaseous hydrocarbons from the product suspension; e) passing at least a portion of said separated gaseous phase to a dehydrogenation reactor where at least a portion of the saturated gaseous hydrocarbons are converted to unsaturated hydrocarbons; and f) recycling at least a portion of said unsaturated hydrocarbons back to the Fischer-Tropsch reactor system.