NOVELTY - Synthesis gas is converted to ethanol by introducing synthesis gas, methyl ethanoate and/or ethyl ethanoate into alcohol synthesis unit to produce methanol and ethanol. Methanol is separated from ethanol, and is introduced together with carbon monoxide, into a carbonylation unit in presence of methanol carbonylation catalyst to produce ethanoic acid. Ethanoic acid, methanol and/or ethanol is introduced into an esterification unit to produce methyl ethanoate and/or ethyl ethanoate. Methyl ethanoate and/or ethyl ethanoate is fed into the alcohol synthesis unit, and ethanol is recovered.    USE - Process of converting synthesis gas to ethanol (claimed).    ADVANTAGE - The process allows production of ethanol from a carbonaceous feedstock, with improved carbon efficiency, a higher selectivity and with a more efficient conversion to ethanol. The purification of the separated hydrogen feed produced during synthesis gas generation has no requirement for the removal of carbon oxides as compared to a process with a separate hydrogenation stage for ethanoates where the carbon oxides act as poisons to the hydrogenation catalyst and increase the formation of inert materials. Further, the synthesis of both methanol and hydrogenation of ethanoates into its corresponding alcohols occur in the same reactor.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for a process for converting a carbonaceous feedstock(s) into ethanol, where the carbonaceous feedstock is first converted into synthesis gas which is subsequently converted into ethanol, comprising:    (A) introducing a carbonaceous feedstock into a synthesis gas reactor to produce a mixture of carbon oxide(s) and hydrogen;    (B) introducing carbon monoxide and hydrogen together with methyl ethanoate and/or ethyl ethanoate into a alcohol synthesis unit to produce methanol and ethanol;    (C) separating the methanol from the ethanol;    (D) introducing methanol together with carbon monoxide (CO), into a carbonylation unit in the presence of a methanol carbonylation catalyst to produce ethanoic acid;    (E) introducing ethanoic acid, together with methanol and/or ethanol, into an esterification unit to produce methyl ethanoate and/or ethyl ethanoate;    (F) feeding methyl ethanoate and/or ethyl ethanoate into the alcohol synthesis unit; and    (G) recovering ethanol.