A process for the production of methanol comprises feeding an amount of a
hydrocarbon feedstock and an amount of an oxygen feedstock to a partial
oxidation reactor to produce a partial oxidation reactor effluent
comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide; adding an amount
of a hydrogen feedstock to the partial oxidation reactor effluent to
produce a synthesis gas stream having a predetermined ratio of hydrogen
to carbon monoxide; and, subjecting the synthesis gas stream to methanol
synthesis to produce a methanol product stream and a tail gas stream
wherein reformation is not used to provide hydrogen as a product.
Reformation may be used to consume hydrogen so that carbon dioxide
preferably obtained as a by product of another process so that the
instant process becomes effectively a temporary carbon sink to convert
carbon dioxide, which would otherwise be released to the atmosphere, to a
stored carbon source.