A bimetallic catalyst composition containing a mesh substrate having supported thereon an alumina washcoat on which are impregnated bimetallic particles of rhodium and ruthenium in specified amounts. A process for the catalytic partial oxidation of a hydrocarbon, such as methane or natural gas, involving contacting the hydrocarbon with an oxidant in the presence of the aforementioned bimetallic catalyst under reaction conditions sufficient to produce synthesis gas, that is, to a mixture of hydrogen and carbon monoxide.

A system and method for processing unconditioned syngas first removes solids and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC), then removes volatile organic compounds (VOC), and then removes at least one sulfur containing compound from the syngas. Additional processing may be performed depending on such factors as the source of syngas being processed, the products, byproducts and intermediate products desired to be formed, captured or recycled and environmental considerations.

In some embodiments, a system for producing synthesis gas, the system including a reactor including a burner, a combustion chamber, and a catalyst chamber, and a mixer upstream of the reactor configured to mix fuel with steam to produce humidified fuel that is provided to the burner of the reactor.

A system and method for processing unconditioned syngas first removes solids and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC), then removes volatile organic compounds (VOC), and then removes at least one sulfur containing compound from the syngas. Additional processing may be performed depending on such factors as the source of syngas being processed, the products, byproducts and intermediate products desired to be formed, captured or recycled and environmental considerations.

Herein discussed is a method of using an oxide ion conducting membrane comprising exposing the oxide ion conducting membrane to a reducing environment on both sides of the membrane. In an embodiment, the oxide ion conducting membrane also conducts electrons. In various embodiments, the membrane is impermeable to fluid flow (e.g., having a permeability of less than 1 micro darcy). In an embodiment, the oxide ion conducting membrane comprises lanthanum chromite and a material selected from the group consisting of doped ceria, yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ), lanthanum strontium gallate magnesite (LSGM), scandia-stabilized zirconia (SSZ), Sc and Ce doped zirconia, and combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the lanthanum chromite comprises undoped lanthanum chromite, strontium doped lanthanum chromite, iron doped lanthanum chromite, strontium and iron doped lanthanum chromite, lanthanum calcium chromite, or combinations thereof. In an embodiment, the membrane is mixed conducting.

The present invention provides a process for the manufacture of a useful product from carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics, the process comprising the steps of: continuously providing the carbonaceous feedstock of fluctuating compositional characteristics to a gasification zone; gasifying the carbonaceous feedstock in the gasification zone to obtain raw synthesis gas; recovering at least part of the raw synthesis gas from the gasification zone and supplying at least part of the recovered raw synthesis gas to a partial oxidation zone; equilibrating the H.sub.2:CO ratio of the raw synthesis gas in the partial oxidation zone to obtain equilibrated synthesis gas; recovering at least part of the equilibrated synthesis gas from the partial oxidation zone and treating the gas to remove impurities and generate a fine synthesis gas; optionally adjusting the H.sub.2:CO ratio of at least part of the fine synthesis gas to obtain adjusted fine synthesis gas; and converting the optionally adjusted fine synthesis gas into the useful product in a further chemical reaction requiring a usage ratio; wherein the fine synthesis gas H2:CO ratio is below the usage ratio and wherein any optional adjustment of at least part of the fine synthesis gas H.sub.2:CO ratio is effective to increase the H.sub.2:CO ratio in the fine synthesis gas to a level at, nearer to or above the usage ratio; wherein the H.sub.2:CO ratio of the raw synthesis gas fluctuates during operation of the process as a result of the fluctuating compositional characteristics of the carbonaceous feedstock by a percentage of ±x; and the H.sub.2:CO ratio of the equilibrated synthesis gas does not fluctuate during operation of the process or fluctuates during operation of the process as a result of the fluctuating compositional characteristics of the carbonaceous feedstock by a percentage±y, y being a lower percentage than x.

A refractory lining in a combustion chamber operating in a reducing atmosphere. The lining includes at least one or more Zirconia (Zr)-based refractory lining members comprising one or more Zr-based parts. The Zr-based parts comprise at least 90 wt. %, preferably at least 95 wt. %, of monoclinic ZrO.sub.2 and/or partially stabilized ZrO.sub.2 and/or fully stabilized ZrO.sub.2, wherein the total content of tetragonal and cubic ZrO.sub.2 amounts to at least 20 wt. %, preferably more than 35 wt. %, as well as Zr based refractory lining members and methods for manufacturing the Zr based refractory lining members.

A process and apparatus for producing a hydrogen-enriched product and recovering CO.sub.2 from an effluent stream from a hydrogen production process unit are described. The process utilizes a CO.sub.2 recovery system integrated with a PSA system that produces at least two product streams to recover additional hydrogen and CO.sub.2 from the tail gas stream of a hydrogen PSA unit in the hydrogen production process.

A process and apparatus for producing a hydrogen-enriched product and recovering CO.sub.2 from an effluent stream from a hydrogen production unit are described. The effluent from the hydrogen production unit, which comprises a mixture of gases comprising hydrogen, carbon dioxide, water, and at least one of methane, carbon monoxide, nitrogen, and argon, is sent to a PSA system that produces at least two product streams for separation. The PSA system that produces at least two product streams separates the gas mixture into a high-pressure hydrogen stream enriched in hydrogen, optionally a second gas stream containing the majority of the impurities, and a low-pressure tail gas stream enriched in CO.sub.2 and some impurities. The CO.sub.2-rich tail gas stream is compressed and sent to a CO.sub.2 recovery unit, where a CO.sub.2-enriched stream is recovered. The CO.sub.2-depleted overhead gas stream is recycled to the PSA system that produces at least two product streams.

A fuel cell system and method for using a peak shaving gas, the system including: a fuel inlet configured to receive fuel from a fuel source; a catalytic partial oxidation (CPOx) reactor configured to at least partially oxidize the fuel during startup of the system; a blower configured to provide air to the CPOx reactor; a gas analyzer configured to determine a composition of fuel provided to the CPOx reactor from the fuel inlet; an oxidation catalyst configured to reduce an O.sub.2 content of fuel received from the CPOx reactor; a reforming catalyst configured to partially reform fuel received from the oxidation catalyst; and a stack of fuel cells configured to generate electricity using fuel received from the reforming catalyst.