A method for preparing methanol from a synthesis gas having less than 90% the stoichiometric amount of H2 to convert the CO and CO2 content of the synthesis gas to methanol by recycling into combination with such synthesis gas a sufficient amount of a hydrogen rich gas stream obtained as a permeate gas by diffusion of the process tail gas to provide a combined synthesis-recycle gas stream having at least about 95% of the stoichiometric amount of H2 to convert its CO and CO2 content to methanol. In a preferred embodiment of the invention compressed air is taken from a gas turbine to form the oxidant steam used in forming the synthesis gas, such synthesis gas in combination with the hydrogen rich recycle gas is processed through a series of methanol convertors to methanol and the non-permeate portion of the tail gas from this methanol process is returned as fuel to the gas turbine.
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