| abstract |
Apparatus for converting crude aqueous oxygenate feedstock, such methanol or the like, to liquid hydrocarbons in contact with a medium pore shape selective crystalline acid zeolite catalyst, such as HZSM-5. In a preferred embodiment, the novel technique comprises means for: (a) contacting a crude methanol feedstock containing a minor amount of water with a liquid hydrocarbon extraction stream under extraction conditions favorable to selective extraction of the methanol, thereby providing an extract liquid stream rich in methanol and an aqueous raffinate stream lean in methanol; (b) charging the extracted methanol substantially free of water to said reaction zone under process conditions to convert substantially all methanol to hydrocarbons; (c) cooling reaction effluent to recover aqueous liquid byproduct stream, gas rich in C2- hydrocarbons, liquid rich in C3-C4 hydrocarbons and C5+ liquid hydrocarbons; and (d) contacting crude methanol feedstock with at least a portion of the liquid hydrocarbons employed as extraction liquid. |