Process for recycling and purifying condensate from a hydrocarbon or alcohol synthesis process

Abstract From the Canadian patent

This invention relates to a process of recycling condensate from a hydrocarbon or alcohol synthesis, wherein the condensate comprises water and contaminants such as lower molecular weight hydrocarbons, alcohols, and other oxygenates. A hot gaseous mixture comprising CH4 and steam contacts the condensate so as to strip the contaminants from the condensate. The stripped contaminants CH4, and, steam are separately recovered as a gaseous stream from the remaining purified water. The recovered CH4-containing gaseous stream may be used in synthesis gas (CO/H2) generation processes with the generated synthesis gas then being used in a hydrocarbon synthesis process to produce heavy hydrocarbons.