Patent ID: 7728182

Claim:
A process for producing an ethanol product from a primary feedstock containing hydrocarbons comprising the steps of: subjecting the primary feedstock with a water content of not greater than 25% to indirect heating, substantially in the absence of oxygen, by a secondary feedstock to create a primary synthesis gas stream comprising CO and H 2 and solids; cleaning the gas stream by removing CO 2 and solids to produce a cleaned gas stream; determining the amount of CO and H 2 in the cleaned gas stream; comparing the percentage of CO and H 2 in the cleaned gas stream with the required CO and H 2 ratio to form the ethanol product; calculating the amount of the secondary feedstock required for indirect heating of the primary feedstock; depending on additional components required to produce the ethanol product, determining an additional quantity of CO and H 2 which may be required as a secondary gas stream from the secondary feedstock; partially oxidizing the calculated amount of secondary feedstock to produce heat required for the indirect heating of the primary feedstock; combining the determined additional quantity of CO and H 2 which may be required from the secondary gas stream with the cleaned gas stream to produce a mixed gas stream; adding a catalyst to the mixed cleaned gas stream and reacting the CO and H 2 with the catalyst in a methanol reactor to produce methanol; converting the methanol into methyl acetate; converting the methyl acetate into ethanol and methanol; and distilling the ethanol and methanol to produce the ethanol product.