Systems and methods are provided for using oxycombustion to provide heat within a reverse flow reactor environment. The oxygen for the oxycombustion can be provided by oxygen stored in an oxygen storage component in the reactor. By using an oxygen storage component to provide the oxygen for combustion during the regeneration step, heat can be added to a reverse flow reactor while reducing or minimizing addition of diluents and while avoiding the need for an air separation unit. As a result, a regeneration flue gas can be formed that is substantially composed of CO.sub.2 and/or H.sub.2O without requiring the additional cost of creating a substantially pure oxygen-containing gas flow.

A method and system for reforming CO.sub.2 rich natural gases is disclosed which comprises: a cold plasma unit configured to convert CO.sub.2 rich natural gases into a plasma state; and a gas reforming reactor configured to reform said CO.sub.2 rich gas mixture at said plasma state into a syngas. The catalytic reforming reactor is separate and different from the DBD cold plasma unit. Means for latent heat of condensation, endothermic/exothermic reactions, and convection currents is used to achieve energy efficiency.

Processes for converting methane and/or other hydrocarbons to synthesis gas (i.e., a gaseous mixture comprising H.sub.2 and CO) are disclosed, in which at least a portion of the hydrocarbon(s) is reacted with CO.sub.2. At least a second portion of the methane may be reacted with H.sub.2O (steam), thereby improving overall thermodynamics of the process, in terms of reducing endothermicity (H) and the required energy input, compared to pure dry reforming in which no H.sub.2O is present. Catalysts for such processes advantageously possess high activity and thereby can achieve significant levels of methane conversion at temperatures below those used conventionally under comparable conditions. These catalysts also exhibit high sulfur tolerance, in addition to reduced rates of carbon (coke) formation, even in the processing (reforming) of heavier (e.g., naphtha boiling-range or jet fuel boiling-range) hydrocarbons. The robustness of the catalyst translates to high operating stability. A representative catalyst comprises 1 wt-% Pt and 1 wt-% Rh as noble metals, on a cerium oxide support.

A steam reforming catalyst that promotes production of hydrogen from a gas containing a hydrocarbon in the presence of steam includes a carrier and two or more catalyst metals supported on the carrier and including a first metal and a second metal. The first metal includes Ni, the second metal includes at least one of Co and Ru, and the carrier is represented by LaNbO.sub.4 or La.sub.1-xSr.sub.xNbO.sub.4 where x is in a range of 0<x0.12.

In a process for producing hydrogen or syngas by methanol cracking, whereby methanol is catalytically decomposed into hydrogen and carbon monoxide in an endothermal reaction, said reaction takes place in a reactor with direct inductive heating in the reaction zone. The heating is obtained by passing an alternating current through a metallic coil located inside the reactor or by using induction heated catalyzed hardware in the shape of a ferromagnetic structure, which is coated with an oxide impregnated with the catalytically active phase.

Materials, methods of making, and methods of providing a trimetallic oxygen carrier for converting methane containing fuel to synthesis gas. The trimetallic oxygen carrier comprises Cu.sub.xFe.sub.yMn.sub.zO.sub.t, where Cu.sub.xFe.sub.yMn.sub.zO.sub.t is a chemical composition with 0<x3 and 0<y3 and 0<z3 and, 0<t5. For example, Cu.sub.xFe.sub.yMn.sub.zO.sub.t may be one of CuMnFeO.sub.4, CuFe.sub.0.5Mn.sub.1.5O.sub.4, CuFeMn.sub.2O.sub.4, CuFe.sub.2MnO.sub.4, or Cu impregnated on FerMnsOu, Fe impregnated on CurMnsOu, Mn impregnated on CurFesOu where r>0, s>0 and u>0 and combinations thereof. Reaction of trimetallic Cu.sub.xFe.sub.yMn.sub.zO.sub.t with methane generates a product stream comprising at least 50 vol. % CO and H.sub.2.

Methods for bi-reforming over a modified red mud catalyst composition, one method including providing a methane feed in the presence of carbon dioxide and steam to react over the modified red mud catalyst composition at increased temperature and increased pressure to produce synthesis gas comprising H.sub.2 and CO, the composition comprising red mud material produced from an alumina extraction process from bauxite ore; nickel oxide, the nickel oxide present at between about 5 wt. % to about 40 wt. % of the modified red mud catalyst composition; and a Periodic Table Group VIB metal oxide, the Group VIB metal oxide present at between about 1 wt. % and about 30 wt. % of the modified red mud catalyst composition.

A multicomponent photocatalyst includes a reactive component optically, electronically, or thermally coupled to a plasmonic material. A method of performing a catalytic reaction includes loading a multicomponent photocatalyst including a reactive component optically, electronically, or thermally coupled to a plasmonic material into a reaction chamber; introducing molecular reactants into the reaction chamber; and illuminating the reaction chamber with a light source.

A metal support-type fuel cell that has a configuration in which a fuel cell element is supported by a metal support, and is capable of reasonably and effectively utilizing an internal reforming reaction even when an anode layer provided in the fuel cell element has a thickness of several tens of micron order is obtained. A fuel cell element is formed in a thin layer shape on a metal support, an internal reforming catalyst layer for producing hydrogen from a raw fuel gas by a steam reforming reaction is provided in a cell unit, and an internal reformed fuel supply path for discharging steam generated by a power generation reaction from an anode layer to lead the steam to the internal reforming catalyst layer, and leading the produced hydrogen to the anode layer is provided.

The present invention provides a steam reforming process for heavy oil or hydrocarbons using a circulating fluidized bed reactor, the process having a reforming step and a regeneration step, wherein the reforming step and the regeneration step comprise a fluidized reactor containing a fluidizable nickel-containing reforming catalyst and produce hydrogen as a product of the reforming bed. The invention produces high purity hydrogen in the synthesis gas product stream and avoids irreversible fouling on the catalyst.