Method for processing Fischer-Tropsch off-gas

This invention concerns a method for recovering carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide from Fischer-Tropsch off-gas by feeding Fischer-Tropsch off-gas through a column comprising an adsorbent bed, and discharging effluent, optionally rinsing the column and the adsorbent bed by feeding carbon dioxide and discharging effluent until at least 60% of the carbon monoxide that was present in the bed is discharged, pressurizing the column and adsorbent bed with carbon dioxide, rinsing the column and the adsorbent bed by feeding carbon dioxide, until at least 60% of the methane and optionally an amount equal to at least 50% of the carbon dioxide present at the commencement of this rinsing step is discharged, rinsing the column and adsorbent bed by feeding a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen, pressurizing the column and adsorbent bed by feeding a mixture of hydrogen and nitrogen. With this method a feed comprising at least 50 vol% carbon monoxide can be produced. Furthermore, methane and carbon dioxide at a high pressure can be recovered from the Fischer-Tropsch gas. This can be fed to a gasifier or a reformer. In a preferred embodiment a gas comprising at least 80 vol% hydrogen is produced as well.