Embodiments of apparatuses and methods for reforming of hydrocarbons including recovery of products are provided. In one example, a method comprises separating a reforming-zone effluent into a net gas phase stream and a liquid phase hydrocarbon stream. The net gas phase stream is separated for forming an H.sub.2-rich stream and a first liquid phase hydrocarbon stream. The H.sub.2-rich stream may be contacted with an adsorbent to form an H.sub.2-ultra rich stream and a gas stream. C.sub.3/C.sub.4 hydrocarbons are absorbed from the gas stream with the liquid phase hydrocarbon stream. The gas stream may be contacted with an H.sub.2/hydrocarbon separation membrane to separate the PSA tail gas stream and form an H.sub.2-rich permeate stream and an H.sub.2 depleted non-permeate residue stream.

Systems and processes for upgrading natural gas liquids (NGL). A natural gas, preferably a shale gas, comprising methane and one or more natural gas liquids can be converted to one or more liquid hydrocarbons. Methane can be separated from the one or more liquid hydrocarbons using a liquid absorbent to provide a first separated stream comprising the methane from the converted stream and a second separated stream comprising the one or more liquid hydrocarbons from the converted stream. At least a portion of the one or more liquid hydrocarbons can be recycled as the liquid absorbent.

Steam reforming processes can include treatment of syngas by water gas shift, water separation, and hydrogen separation by pressure swing adsorption (PSA). Additionally, CO.sub.2 can be scrubbed from the syngas prior to the PSA. PSA tail gas, including CH.sub.4, CO, and H.sub.2, can be recompressed and recycled to the PSA for further hydrogen separation and to the steam reformer feed to convert eventually all carbon in the feedstock into CO.sub.2 for the scrubber to separate. Fuel requirements can be fulfilled by part of the hydrogen product to eliminate stack CO.sub.2 emissions. The hydrogen used as fuel is heated and turbo-expanded to provide power before being combusted as fuel. A nitrogen purge may be added.

A method of direct reduction of iron (DRI) is disclosed, the method comprising generating metallic iron by removing oxygen from iron ore using a reducing gaseous mixture with excess carbon monoxide that produces an excess CO.sub.2 by-product is provided. CO.sub.2 by-product is optionally sequestered. A system for carrying out the method is also disclosed.

A process for reforming for producing hydrogen and generating electricity, comprises: introducing a feed comprising a hydrocarbon stream to a reformer to produce unshifted synthesis gas (syngas); introducing the unshifted syngas to a water gas shift unit to produce a shifted syngas; removing CO.sub.2 from the shifted syngas to produce a CO.sub.2 depleted syngas and a CO.sub.2 product; introducing the CO.sub.2 depleted syngas to a pressure swing adsorption unit to produce a hydrogen product and an off-gas comprising carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, unreacted methane; splitting a portion of the hydrogen product; and providing the portion of the hydrogen product to an electricity generator for generating electricity for use within the process.

In a hydrocarbon-fed steam methane reformer hydrogen-production process and system, carbon dioxide is recovered in a pre-combustion context, and optionally additional amounts of carbon dioxide are recovered in a post-combustion carbon dioxide removal, to provide the improved carbon dioxide recovery or capture disclosed herein.

A biomethanol production system and method is provided. The system comprises (a) a feed stream comprising methane, water, and carbon dioxide; (b) a reformer reactor capable of reacting the feed stream to form a syngas mixture comprising hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide; (c) a methanol reactor capable of reacting the syngas mixture to form biomethanol product; (d) a wash column comprising the syngas mixture and the biomethanol product, wherein the biomethanol product is capable of absorbing carbon dioxide from the syngas mixture; and (e) a flash column comprising a vent capable of venting the absorbed carbon dioxide. A method for removing carbon dioxide from a biomethanol production system is also provided.

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.

Process for the synthesis of ammonia from natural gas comprising conversion of a charge of desulphurized natural gas and steam, with oxygen-enriched air or oxygen, into a synthesis gas, and treatment of the synthesis gas with shift reaction and decarbonation, wherein a part of the CO2-depleted synthesis gas, obtained after decarbonation, is separated and used as fuel fraction for one or more furnaces of the conversion section, and the remaining part of the gas is used to produce ammonia.

The invention provides a scrubbing column for cleaning gas streams laden with absorbent residues, for example with methanol, and also with solid particles, for example with fuel dust. The gas scrubbing is effected by means of a random packing disposed in the lower region of the scrubbing column and the gas scrubbing of the gas stream laden solely with absorbent residues but not with solid particles by means of a structured packing disposed in the upper region of the scrubbing column. The use of the scrubbing column according to the invention in the integrated plant system between a gasification plant and a plant for gas scrubbing which is operated by the Rectisol process, for example, offers particular advantages with regard to its industrial employability owing to the possible connections described, which bring synergies for efficient operation of the integrated plant system.