Methanol process

A process is described for the synthesis of methanol comprising the steps of: (i) passing a first synthesis gas mixture comprising a make-up gas through a first synthesis reactor containing a cooled methanol synthesis catalyst to form a first product gas stream, (ii) recovering methanol from the first product gas stream thereby forming a first methanol- depleted gas mixture, (iii) combining the first methanol-depleted gas mixture with a loop recycle gas stream to form a second synthesis gas mixture, (iv) passing the second synthesis gas mixture through a second synthesis reactor containing a cooled methanol synthesis catalyst to form a second product gas stream, (v) recovering methanol from the second product gas stream thereby forming a second methanol-depleted gas mixture, and (vi) using at least part of the second methanol-depleted gas mixture as the loop recycle gas stream, wherein the first synthesis reactor has a higher heat transfer per cubic metre of catalyst than the second synthesis reactor, none of the loop recycle gas stream is fed to the first synthesis gas mixture and the recycle ratio of the loop recycle gas stream to form the second synthesis gas mixture is in the range 1.1 :1 to 6:1.