A series of experiments in conversion of nitrogen-rich (above 40 vol %) syngas to produce dimethyl ether (DME) was carried out in a flow-through pilot installation. Two commercial catalysts, specifically a DV-8-2 methanol catalyst and a gamma-Al2O3 dehydration catalyst, were used as components of a bifunctional catalyst. The paper introduces the concept of reacting gas, the content of which in syngas corresponds to the sum of the content of hydrogen and carbon oxides. No methanol or DME was detected in the converted gas leaving the reactor, as these compounds condense in a water-cooled separator. The following performance values were achieved after more than 600 total running hours of the bifunctional catalyst: DME selectivity at least 66% and DME productivity up to 340 L kg(cat)(-1) h(-1). The study of single-stage DME synthesis from nitrogen-containing syngas has demonstrated the practicability for an industrial process technology using commercial components in a bifunctional catalyst.