Production of distillates by the integration of supercritical extraction and gasification through methanol to gasoline

Claim 1

An integrated process for the conversion of solid coal to a wide slate of fuel products comprising: extracting a portion of said coal by contacting said coal with an extraction solvent under supercritical conditions of temperature and pressure whereby said solvent is converted to a dense-gas phase capable of dissolving the coal, separating said solvent and a hydrogen-rich liquid coal extract, said coal extract having a hydrogen concentration greater than said solid coal, a portion of said solid coal remaining an unsolvated, solid coal residue, upgrading at least a portion of said coal extract in the presence of hydrogen to produce a plurality of upgraded fuel products, gasifying said residue under oxidizing conditions to produce a synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide, shifting the hydrogen to carbon monoxide ratio of a portion of said synthesis gas to produce a hydrogen-enriched gas, combining said hydrogen-enriched gas with said synthesis gas, converting said combined gas to methanol, passing at least a portion of said methanol in contact with a catalyst capable of converting said methanol to gasoline products and recycling at least a portion of said gasoline products for use as said extraction solvent.