NOVELTY - Process comprises providing a feed stream of synthesis gas, reacting the carbon monoxide with the hydrogen to produce methanol, separating unreacted synthesis gas from methanol, passing the unreacted synthesis gas through a separation zone, to provide a hydrogen- and carbon monoxide-rich gaseous stream, purifying the carbon monoxide-rich gaseous stream to provide purified carbon monoxide and a methane-rich gas stream, and subjecting the methane-rich gas stream to steam reforming to provide carbon monoxide and hydrogen and then combining with the feed stream.    USE - The process is useful for producing alcohol, preferably ethanol (claimed) and methanol from synthesis gas.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Process comprises: either (a) providing a feed stream of synthesis gas, where the feed stream of synthesis gas comprises hydrogen, carbon monoxide and methane, (b) reacting the carbon monoxide with the hydrogen to produce methanol, (c) separating unreacted synthesis gas from the methanol, (d) passing the unreacted synthesis gas through a separation zone, to provide a hydrogen-rich gaseous stream and a carbon monoxide-rich gaseous stream, where the carbon monoxide-rich gaseous stream further includes methane, (e) purifying the carbon monoxide-rich gaseous stream to provide purified carbon monoxide and a methane-rich gas stream, (f) subjecting the methane-rich gas stream to steam reforming to provide carbon monoxide and hydrogen, and (g) combining the carbon monoxide and the hydrogen from step (f) with the feed stream of synthesis gas in step (a); or (1a) providing a crude synthesis gas, (1b) passing the crude synthesis gas through a separation zone, to provide a hydrogen-rich gaseous stream and a carbon monoxide-rich gaseous stream, (1c) purifying the carbon monoxide-rich gaseous stream to provide purified carbon monoxide and a methane-rich gas stream, (1d) subjecting the methane-rich gas stream to steam reforming to provide carbon monoxide and hydrogen and (1e) combining the carbon monoxide and the hydrogen with the crude synthesis gas.