Integrated process for producing C2 hydrocarbons from carbon monoxide and hydrogen

Claim 1

A process for producing ethane and/or ethylene comprising a. introducing hydrogen and carbon monoxide to a catalytic reaction zone, the mol ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide being in the range of about 1/1 to about 5/1; b. reacting said hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the catalytic reaction zone to a conversion of at least 50 percent of the carbon monoxide and thereby producing a catalytic reaction zone effluent containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, water, hydrocarbons, and oxygenated hydrocarbons, said reaction being carried out under conditions of temperatures in the range of about 150°C to 450°C, pressures in the range of atmospheric to about 75 atmospheres and space velocities in the range of 500 to 50,000 V/V/hr STP, in the presence of a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst containing iron, cobalt, nickel or ruthenium; c. introducing directly to a hydropyrolysis zone at least a portion of the catalytic reaction zone effluent containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, water, hydrocarbons and oxygenated hydrocarbons, together with any necessary hydrogen required to bring the mol ratio of hydrogen to total hydrocarbons and oxygenated hydrocarbons having at least three carbon atoms to at least 1/1; d. hydropyrolyzing said catalytic reaction zone effluent to produce a hydropyrolysis zone effluent, said hydropyrolyzing being carried out under conditions of temperatures in the range of about 600°C to 900°C, pressures of at least 5 atmospheres gauge and residence times in the range of about 0.1 sec to 60 sec; e. and recovering C 2 hydrocarbons from said hydropyrolysis zone effluent.