Multistage process for converting oxygenates to liquid hydrocarbons with aliphatic recycle

Claim 1

A process for converting oxygenate feedstock comprising methanol, dimethyl ether or mixtures thereof to predominantly distillate range liquid hydrocarbons comprising the steps of contacting the feedstock with zeolite catalyst in a primary fluidized bed catalyst stage at elevated temperature and moderate pressure to convert feedstock to hydrocarbons comprising C 2 -C 4 olefins and C 5 + hydrocarbons; cooling and separating effluent from the primary stage to recover a liquid hydrocarbon stream and a light hydrocarbon vapor stream rich in C 2 -C 4 olefins; pressurizing and contacting the light olefinic hydrocarbon stream in a secondary catalytic stage with oligomerization catalyst comprising medium-pore shape selective acidic zeolite at substantially increased pressure and moderate temperature to convert at least a portion of olefins to a heavier liquid hydrocarbon product stream comprising olefinic gasoline and distillate range liquids; and injecting at least a portion of the olefinic gasoline recycle stream into the fluidized catalyst bed of the primary stage reactor at a separate point above the oxygenate feedstock.