A method of using a feedstock gas reactor is described. A hydrocarbon, such as methane, is chemical decomposed in the feedstock gas reactor using heat of combustion generated from the combustion of a combustible gas. A mixed product stream is extracted from the feedstock gas reactor. The mixed product stream comprises hydrogen, carbon, and water. At least a portion of the one or more combustion product gases are vented from the combustion chamber. At least some of the carbon is activated using the vented one or more combustion product gases. At least some of the activated carbon is recycled to the feedstock gas reactor.

Provided are methods for preparing hydrogen and solid carbon. Illustrative methods comprise providing a feedstock comprising gaseous hydrocarbons to a microwave-inert reaction vessel and/or a radio wave-inert reaction vessel. The reaction vessel has solid carbon, about 0% water and about 0% molecular oxygen inside the reaction vessel and the carbon inside the reaction vessel is operable to heat the feedstock comprising gaseous hydrocarbons. The carbon is then exposed to microwaves and/or radio waves until the solid carbon is at a temperature of at least 1200 Kelvin, thereby forming hydrogen and solid carbon. Once formed, the hydrogen and solid carbon are separated.

A fuel reformer for producing a steam reforming reaction between fuel and water on a reforming catalyst includes a fuel injection part that injects and supplies fuel into the reforming catalyst, and an injection control part that controls an injection amount of fuel by the fuel injection part. The injection control part controls the injection amount in order that a temperature of the reforming catalyst is not lower than a preset given temperature. The fuel reformer further includes a temperature obtaining part that measures or estimates the temperature of the reforming catalyst, and a target value calculation part that calculates a target value of the injection amount, such that the temperature of the reforming catalyst after fuel is injected by the fuel injection part is equal to or higher than the given temperature. The fuel injection part is controlled such that the injection amount coincides with the target value.

A process for providing a carbon monoxide-containing stream involves a separation of synthesis gas into a hydrogen-rich gas stream and a carbon monoxide-rich gas stream containing carbon monoxide to an extent of 85% by volume or more. The separation is effected in an arrangement composed of three membrane separation stages. Prior to the performance of the membrane separation, the synthesis gas is pretreated for removal of secondary components present in the synthesis gas.

A method of dry reforming of methane (CH.sub.4) is provided. The method includes contacting at a temperature of 500 to 1000 degree Celsius (° C.) a reactant gas mixture including methane and carbon dioxide (CO.sub.2) with a bimetallic supported catalyst. The bimetallic supported catalyst includes a porous catalyst support and a bimetallic catalyst. The porous catalyst support includes aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2O.sub.3) and magnesium oxide (MgO). The bimetallic catalyst includes nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu) disposed on the porous catalyst support. The method further includes collecting a product gas mixture including hydrogen (H.sub.2) and carbon monoxide (CO). The bimetallic supported catalyst includes 8 to 16 weight percent (wt. %) nickel and 2 to 14 wt. % copper, each based on a total weight of bimetallic supported catalyst.

The present invention deals with catalysts for the conversion of CO by the shifting reaction of high temperature water gas, free from chromium and iron, consisting of alumina promoted by potassium, by zinc and copper oxides and in a second embodiment also additionally nickel. The catalysts thus prepared maintain high CO conversion activity, not having the environmental limitations or operating limitations with low excess steam in the process, which exist for catalysts in accordance with the state of the art. Such catalysts are used in the hydrogen or synthesis gas production process by the steam reforming of hydrocarbons, allow the use of low steam/carbon ratios in the process, exhibiting high activity and stability to thermal deactivation and lower environmental restrictions for production, storage, use and disposal, than the industrially used catalysts based on iron, chromium, and copper oxides.

Disclosed is a hydrocarbon gas reforming supported catalyst, and methods for its use, that includes a catalytic material capable of catalyzing the production of a gaseous mixture comprising hydrogen (H.sub.2) and carbon monoxide (CO) from a hydrocarbon gas and a clay support material comprising a clay mineral, wherein the catalytic material is chemically bonded to the clay support material, and wherein the chemical bond is a M1-M2 bond, where M1 is a metal from the catalytic material and M2 is a metal from the clay support material, or the chemical bond is a M1-O bond, where M1 is a metal from the catalytic material and oxygen (O) is from the clay support material, wherein the supported catalyst comprises at least 70% or more by weight of the clay support material.

A reactor suitable for a reaction containing an exothermic reaction is provided. The reactor includes the following components. A reaction channel has an inlet and an outlet, and has a front-end reaction zone, middle-end reaction zones, and a back-end reaction zone from the inlet to the outlet. A front-end catalyst support and a front-end catalyst are located in the front-end reaction zone, a middle-end catalyst support and a middle-end catalyst are respectively located in the middle-end reaction zones, and a back-end catalyst support and a back-end catalyst are located in the back-end reaction zone. The concentration of the front-end catalyst is less than the concentration of the back-end catalyst, and the concentration of the middle-end catalyst is decided via a computer simulation of reaction parameters. The reaction parameters include size and geometric shape of the reaction channel.

A method for upgrading a hydrocarbon feed gas to methanol, including the steps of: providing a hydrocarbon feed gas; optionally, purifying the hydrocarbon feed gas in a gas purification unit; optionally, prereforming the hydrocarbon feed gas together with a steam feedstock in a prereforming unit; carrying out steam methane reforming in a reforming reactor heated by means of an electrical power source; providing the synthesis gas to a methanol synthesis unit to provide a product including methanol and an off-gas. Also, a system for upgrading a hydrocarbon feed gas to methanol.

Combining multiple subsystems involving biomass processing, biomass gasification of the processed biomass where a synthesis gas is produced then converted to hydrogen fuels or other transportation fuels for use in coupled transportation systems sized to consume all the transportation fuel produced. Carbon in the biomass is converted to CO.sub.2 in the conversion process and a portion of that CO.sub.2 is captured and sequestrated for long term storage.