Methanol production

Claim 1

In a process for the production of methanol by passing a gas comprising hydrogen and carbon dioxide over a methanol synthesis catalyst which consists essentially of copper, zinc and a third component which is chromium or a metal oxide from Groups II to IV of the Periodic Table at a pressure below 150 atmospheres and a temperature up to 300°C. to form a gaseous reaction mixture including methanol and water and unreacted carbon dioxide and then recovering the methanol from said gaseous reaction mixture, the improvement whereby the efficiency of the methanol recovery is increased, said improvement comprising the steps of cooling said gaseous reaction mixture to condense part of the methanol and water therein, scrubbing the remaining gaseous mixture with water to remove substantially the remainder of the methanol therefrom and recycling the scrubbed gas for further contact with said methanol synthesis catalyst.