Slurry bubble column reactors are being increasingly utilized in the large-scale conversion of coal or natural gas to liquid hydrocarbons and alcohols. A new suite of tools for developing low-temperature methanol synthesis in circulating slurry bubble reactors is explored in this study. The scale-up strategy consisting of hydrodynamics in cold flow units, catalyst performance evaluation in an autoclave, and process investigation in a pilot-scaled circulating slurry bubble reactor is presented. This methodology should be helpful for designing and scaling-up the low-temperature methanol synthesis and other related processes in slurry bubble column reactors, which will enhance and speed them towards commercial application. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.